IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


1.0    ^1^  I 


I.I 


11.25 


1.4 


2.2 

1.6 


,    ,  ■ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


^3  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MSSO 

(71*)  W14503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 
D 
D 
□ 
D 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul^e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  platas  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reiii  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  witthin  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film6es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6meritaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilmd  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
roint  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  ddcolor6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  indgale  de  Timpression 

Includes  supplementary  materic 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~>  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~71  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

r~j  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  dt^  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film^  au  taux  de  rdduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


y 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

D.B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 


L'exemplaire  filrii6  /ut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

D.B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commengant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  '^^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  §tre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Frontispiece. 


% 

:. 

I 


A  WAITING  BEACH-MASTER,  LUKANIN  ROOKERY,  SAINT  PAUL  ISLAND. 
Dniwii  fiiiiii  lil'(>  liy  Ui'istdW  .Viliuiis. 


'•'■~""^^'"--. 


UL.S  _    -■ 


,'  iX  «,    .  v,!l    I  1. 


\     I 


«-  ;*-A^    t 


I 


THE 


* 


I 


FUR  SEALS  AND  FUR-SEAL  ISLANDS 


OK  TIIK 


NORTH  PACIFIC  OCEAN. 


BY 


DAVID  STARR  JORDAN, 

/'lysii/ni/  of  Lr/aiiu  S/anfonf  Jr.  r,iiv,'r<;ity 
COMMISS.ONHH    IN    CHAHOH   OP    FUR-SEAI.  INVEST.OAT.ONS    OP    ,896-97. 

WITH    THK    K()I.LO\VI\(;  OKFiriAI.   ASSOCIATKS: 

LEONHARD    STEJNEGER   and    FREDERIC    A.    LUCAS 

CJl    tl.c-    II.    ^s.    X,,tlo,.,.l    .M,.«c.,,M.. 

JEFFERSON    F.    MOSER, 

I-ieiileiiaiil-Ci»iiiiuuulei\  r.  S.  X 

CHARLES    H.    TOWNSEND, 
or  tiiu.   11,   is.   K,«,,  co,>.,„i««iJ„. 

GEORGE    A.   CLARK, 

SSi;o,..^toij-    ,,11.'     St>..rioKraph»;r. 

JOSEPH    MURRAY, 
WITH    SPECIAL    PAPERS   BY   OTHER   CONTRIBUTORS. 


PART  1. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT   PRINTING   OFITCB. 
I8q8. 


\.Vo 


\\^y 


CONTRIBUTORS    OI-    PAPERS   OX    SPECIAL   SUBJECTS. 


iN!A.'riI-,\N     I3y\TS:l<!S, 
(>.    KLIULliW    COOK, 

jJAXiKi.  \v.  co!Ji:illi::t, 

\VILLI.\M     II.    HA1.U, 

\vii.uiv\M   K.   in:nLiiv, 

HAl-eWSOX    (i.    IJVAK, 
KLMEW    K.    KAWMl-W, 
flERFJE    A..    KISH, 
CHAWUE«    H.    OIUiaEI-eT, 

alhickt  hassaul, 
maktim  lixxei^u, 
james  m.  macoun, 


JK:>;NIIi    C.    MILLEK, 
\V.\L  riil<    MILUKI-J, 
^VIUUIA1VI    r'ALMKK, 

MAWv  J.  KA-riim;x, 

NVILLIAX^I    IC.    l-;n    TKW, 
JOSEr-H    M.    KOSIC, 
Ei:<'.EXE    A.    SSCMWAKZ, 
KOMEKT    E.    S^NOllOWAiS) 
WILLIAM    A.    (SXO\V, 
CIIAWLES    W.    SXILE«, 
WILUIIK   \V.  'riioui:KM, 
KWEDERICK    W.    XWUE. 


23u 


fi^ 


wifimmmmmmmmmmmfmwmmmm^iim 


I 


\r+^=Fn^ 


1*AKT    I. 


Tin:  HISTORY,  COXDITIOX,  AM)  XEliDS  Ol'  Till- 

HERD  OF  FUR  SBALS  RFSORTINX;  TO 

TH1-;  PRIBILOF  ISLANDS. 


DAVID    STARR    JORDAN 

AND 

GEORGE  ARCHIBALD  CLARK. 


ILMSTRATEI)  BV  PHOTOGUAFilS,  AM)  in    I.KAW  I.N.IS  KKO.M  XATl' 


RK  BV  BRISTOW  ADAMS. 


15184 1 


1 


rRKASUKY    1  )i;PAUT.MIONT, 


I> 


ocMiiii'iit  No.  L'Ol" 


Itirision  o/  Special  .Igeiils. 


■■^■■i^ 


q,„ .   ,  ,  . ,     .  I-'EBKUAUY  24,  1,S!)8. 

Sm .  I  have  tlu,  honor  to  submit  herewith  my  final  report  as  com.ni.s.sio„er  i  >  charge 
oi  tur-seal  invest>j,'atio..s  for  the  seasons  of  1896  and  1.S97.  ^ 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

David  Staer  Jokuan, 

Hou.LvMAN.1.  (lAGE,  Commissio,,,,: 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Washinyton,  JJ,  C. 


TABLE   OF  CC)N1^r]XTS. 
PART  I. 


ClIAl'TKIt 


CflAPTKIl 


ClIAPTKK  III, 


1.  — I.VTRODI'CTION: 

Thf  occasion  of  the  iiii|uiry ''"*'"• 

'I'lio  act  of  Couj^reNs '" 

Tbe  cunniiiNMioii ^7 

The  Bcoi)o  of  the  worl. '^ 

The  irixcsti>,'atioii„ W 

The  report 19 

Itinerary,  iH'.m 1!> 

Itiiicriiry,  1H97 20 

11.— HisToitiCAi.  >Skkt(  II:                       21 

Discovery  aijil  exploration 

Ileriug's  second  voyage -3 

JMscovcry  of  Co.uMi:;:„lcr  an<l  l'ril",iV„f  islamls ' "  ^^ 

The  Unssian-Aincrican  Coinpany                               -^ 

Its  organization 23 

The  ukase  of  IH'Jl - 1 

The  scconil  and  third  charters  ..."........ '^* 

The  company's  luanajjenient ^4 

lujunons  methods -'"> 

I'lotcction  of  fomaies  25 

The  herd  at  the  chjso  of  Russian  control ^^' 

J'he  interregnum  26 

I'rofessor  I )air8  notes 26 

The  number  of  seals  killed "'' 

Mr.  Howes's  notes 26 

The  trading  companies 26 

The  work  of  scaling 26 

Methods  of  driving 27 

Russian  methods 27 

The  killing  not  indiscriminate  .."...' 27 

American  nianagemeni  '-H 

Th<- Alaska  Commercial  Company". 2« 

The,  first  lease '2H 

The  North  American  ('ommeVcialCompanv "'9 

The  present  lease '  29 

The  decline  in  the  bachelor  herd   29 

Land  ,ind  sea  killing 29 

The  extension  of  sealing  to  Itering  Sea "" 

The  Tribunal  of  Arbitration  ....                    ^0 

Theeffcctof  the  Regulations.... '^0 

— TlIK  HoMK  OIC  THE  Flu  8EAI..S:           •^>' 

A.  The  Pribilof  Islands 

Their  geography 31 

St.  Paul  Island ..^.....[[[ 31 

St.  George  Island 31 

Otter  Island ^1 

Walrus  Lsland 32 

32 

5 


6 


TAHI.K    OK    (;nN'n:NT8. 


CiiAi'irit        III.— I'm;  IIomk  or  tiii:  I'm  Skals— ('(mtlmu'd. 

A.  'I'lir  I'l'iliilof  IhIiiikIn— C'intliiilfil.  Page. 

Siviitcli  Koik H2 

'I'ho  <liiiiii»o 3L' 

No  mMii).  liMrliiirx ',VJ 

Vo^^utiiiiiiin 3H 

'I'lui  iriiiininiilH Xi 

I'lir  hinlH Xi 

liikiibitiuits 'Xi 

C'onilitiiiiis  in  KiiNsiaii  ilnyH 31 

('oiiditions  in  Anipriniii  iIh.vb 31 

'I'll!'  ImiidliiiK  oC  tlu)  Hruls  31 

'I'lio  aiippoi't  of  fill)  AliMitN 3."> 

'I'hr  (iovornni)'iit  iiKt-iitN 35 

H.  Tlio  fiir-Bciil  rooliPrit'B 3(i 

The  l>r<'e(linn  KroiiiidH 3<S 

Tlie  liiiiiliii){  uroiiiids 30 

The  St.  I'liul  roolsfi'ii'H 3(i 

Vostochiii 36 

.Morjovi 37 

roloviiiii 37 

Liikiiiiiii  38 

Kitovi   38 

Ueuf 38 

Siviitih  Kotk   38 

(ioibiit.li 3!t 

Ardiniieii 3!( 

Spilki 40 

Lngiioii  40 

Tolstoi 40 

/i.tpadni 40 

Little  Z:i|isidiii  40 

Zupiulni  IJft't' 41 

.Maniiiiclit'ii 41 

The  St.  (jeoi'fie  rookeries 41 

/iil)udni 41 

Staniyii  Artel 41 

North VJ 

Little  Ka»t 42 

Kast 42 

t':iAi'TEn IV.— TiiK  I'LK  Seal  oii  ilBA  Hkak; 

Its  relttlives 43 

The  sea  bear  and  triu^  seal 43 

The  fur  seals  of  the  Antarctie 43 

The  fur  seals  of  the  Noi'th  I'acille 44 

Stoller's  account 44 

__-4%«  three  herds 44 

The  I'ribilof  herd 44 

The  Koniandorski  herd 44 

The  Robhen  Island  herd 45 

T'hree  distinct  speries 45 

Callorliiniis  itlascauiis 45 

Callorhiniis  iirsinus 45 

Callorhinus  curilensis 45 

The  noiuenelature  of  the  fur  seal  46 

The  eutegories  of  seals 46 

The  male 46 


I 


Pago. 
32 
32 
312 
33 
33 
33 
33 
31 
34 
31 
35 

:».-) 

3t> 
3(i 
36 
3(! 
36 
37 
37 
38 
38 
38 
38 
3!» 
3!» 
40 
40 
40 
40 
40 
41 
41 
41 
41 
41 
42 
12 
42 

43 
43 
43 
44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
46 
46 
46 


TAIirj;    OI'    CONTKNTS. 

(■.UnKU  IV.-T„K.   K,  u   S,:m.  „n  s,:,    HkaI.-(  n„,i„„...l, 

I'lic  catoKcri.H  of  hciiU— ( ■<.iil  iiiiird.  '""" 

'  Till'  fi'iiinle 

Tlir  l>,'ii'li(tlor 

j  Tlio  hull  hull []     

/  'I'hc  iillo  hull ..'    ' 

The  y(iiirliii);N  iinil  vlr«hm 

,  I'ho  |iu|i.M 

'•'•' iKrntii.iiN  <,f  iIiuhuhIm .^. ...! 

Tlioir  Huiiiiiii'i'  iiiovciiiniiM 

The  liiiiilH  iiriiii;{iiiliiiii      

'*»  <<"ir8iMiii(l(|iirutioii  ..  

captk.,     v.-TnKiu.,.v.,„.K.„.T„KKuuKK,;;,;:; 

I  h(^  iiiil vhI  ut  thr  islnnds 

Till'  iiiiiles 

Mutt!  o(t>inli,,^t,  ,iiri\,ilH 

Till'  olilcHt  riiiini  liiHt 

Tlio  hiichi'liirs 

Stilt  istiiN  of  killiiiKs 

-■ Ji.'KJiiriiii};  „r  I h„  NualiiiK  s''HN(.ii   .'."'.".... 

I'ho  .iriiviil  of  the  cows 

Their  iiicomliijr  jrijidiial.   

Their  HI  rival  not  ih..  o.vuNion  o,  i|uhtV„",r 

The  iiicthcxl  of  liiiiiliiij; "  

MaHNiMl  lookiM-y  foriijHii,,,      

Diiily  lookciy  coiiiit.s 

Syn.iimis  o(   Kiii>vi  lookorv ., 

The  beifplil  of  tho  woiiNon..' 

Kluctiiiition  of  jmpiiliition 

Aiiiiihithcatcr  of  Kitovi ] 

Inrioase  of  fiiinilicH 

What  tb.' height  of  thoNeasonm..iuiN'.. 

Tho  |H-iio«l  ciiirciitly  iiiiNiiii.hisiood ....    

'I'lir  birth  of  the  ))ii|i •"> 

Tho  feediiiji;  of  the  cows ^'> 

SwiiiiiiiiiiK  Hi-als r>."> 

Tho  seal  digests  its  food  in  the  water' '"' 

The  evidenco  of  tli(!  piip.s  •"'" 

The  fastiM^of  the  sealH :"l> 

The  harcni 57 

Kiirifo  hareniN 

Ilaieiii  sizes 

Harem  diHcipIine 

The  departure  of  the  eows 

Methods  of  discipline 

The  tlshtinjrof  tli,.  Iiiills 

The  ..arl.v  ligbtiiiH:  ov.'restiiiiated 

No  (iKht  iuK  ov.r  airivin;.  cows     

l''iKhtiiig  inihienced  hy  sexual  instjn.t 

Manner  of  lightinjr 

Keallljrhtiiig 

The  treatment  of  the  rows  '. 

The  wounds  of  the  fur  seal..... 


16 
Iti 
47 
47 
47 
17 
17 
17 
IS 

\H 

I!) 
4!) 

I!) 
4!) 
r.d 

r.(i 

50 

51 

51 

52 

52 

52 

53 
53 
53 
5) 
51 
51 
51 


The  instinct  for  tighlinff... 
Th.'  noise  of  the  rookeries  . 
The  sleeping  se,<s.. 


.11 
57 
5M 
5s 
5H 
5!  I 
5!l 
5!( 

(10 

lid 

)il 

(il 

(il 

(12 

(12 

113 


II 


TAISI.K    OV    (CONTENTS. 


■*^ 


CiiAiTKii  V. — Till!  Daily  Likk  ok  tin-:  Koukkiues— Coiitinnod.  Pngo. 

Tlxt  arrival  at  the  iHlaiuls — ('(intiiiiit'd. 

Their  atiitudcH ^ G4 

The  coloratiou 64 

'!  !■!'  pelage )i5 

The  Htajiy  season ti.') 

Till'  arrival  of  the  younger  seals (Mi 

The  hreakiiii;  ui>  of  the  lirfediii};  seaHOii 07 

The  eonditioii  <>t  the  hulls (i7 

The  food  and  feeding  ^'oin'ds (i8 

^*<Uie  a^eof  the  fur  seals (»8 

'       The  fur  seal  jiup (iS 

The  swiininiiig  of  the  ptips 09 

-The  exeursions  of  the  jjujis 09 

,  Mortality  aiuoiig  the  seals 70 

-— _L>eath  of  ])ups 70 

The  parasite,  rncinaria 70 

The  count  of  dead  pups,  IH'M 70 

C'oni)>arative  counts 71 

The  departure  of  the  seals 71 

— ^fhc  eiii'uiies  of  tlie  sea's 71 

The  (ireat  Killer 71 

The  dejiarture  of  the  liai'helors  and  bulls 7U 

The  swiiuMiin;;  of  the  seals 72 

The  rate  of  travel 72 

Ha  hits  of  the  southern  fur  seals 73 

Their  nu)venients 73 

*                             They  do  not  inijtrate 71$ 

^"'                          ltreodiu<>' liahits 73 

Breeding;  ({rounds 74 

The  liithtinK  "f  the  bulls 74 

Ditferenee  in  time  of  birth 74 

CHAl'TKlt        VI. — TilK  CoN'DlTiON  oi'  Till':  VvK  Skai.  IIbiid: 

A.  I'ast  ronditions 75 

Ai'reage  uieasurenients 75 

Their  ditliculty 75 

Abseneo  of  reliable  surveys 76 

The  irregular  nature  of  the  ground 76 

(,'hiolly  guesswork 76 

Magnitude  of  the  problem -. 70 

Early  estimates ^ 77 

Captain  Bryanfs  estimate 77 

The  beginning  of  arreage  ni<'asuren>ent» 77 

KUiott's  estimate  of  lM7l'-74 77 

Important  assumptions 78 

The  law  of  distribution 78 

Assum))tious  iniorri^ct 78 

The  true  law  of  distribution 78 

Stability  of  rookery  conditions  only  apparent.. 78 

Hesults  of  Elliott's  enunn'ratiou 79 

The  tigures  unreaHouable 79 

'I'he  methods  of  enunu'ratitm 79 

The  surveys  can  iu>t  be  \  erilied 80 

The  effei't  of  inaccurate  survex  s 80 

Inadei|uato  unit  of  space 80 

A  more  rational  unit 81 


ClIAI'THK 


VI, 


TAHLK  OF  CONTKNTS.  g 

-TiiK  CoNDiTiox  ..I-  Tin.:  K.k  S..:.vr.  Ili.:K„-(onti.,Me,l. 

A.   I'ast  (•.piidiiioiis— Contiiincl.  '"<■'"• 

Thcfstiiiiiite  Cor  Kitovi  and  Lukaiiiii 

A  iiieasnro  of  tlio  oviTcsliin.itc _ 

Tho  rcmnts  of  Mr.  Heaiiiaii ][\           '*" 

(  aptaiu  Itrvaiit's  note '*- 

Spilki  and  I'oloviiiii .,  ''. '*"' 

I'fusoiiiil  ('NtiinatesdifrBr ^ '*'^ 

Klliott's  use  of  lifriircs ^'^ 

-Mr.  Tiii^rie's  cstiiiiatu ] ^'^ 

The  I'stiniate  inconeft **' 

Klliott's  18E0  estimate.. ..!!^'''''".'.'^.\" '^ 

TliiNestiiiinteiiiiHiitisfactoiy [[[    **' 

Iho  True  and  Townsond  estimate  for  mc, ^t 

rill)  .'stiinate  must  be  donblod '*!' 

It  anticipated  tlio  season [\ ^^ 

Arl.itrary  reduction  f<,r  massed  rookeries *"'' 

riio  estimate  revised '^'* 

Tlie  important  feature  of  the  estimate ' ^'f 

-Mr.  Crowley's  estinuite  for  18it5 ^" 

t'<iloneI  -Murray's  estimate '**' 

Mefeetsof  this  estimate ^~ 

Contrast  of  estimates  for  lM)r> **" 

Contrast  of  aereafjo  measurements.       ^' 

Summary  of  j),ist  eonditions '^ 

A  rectmstrueiion  of  earlier  estimates'. "'^ 

The  earlier  and  later  .piotai **'^ 

The  Muota  depemlent  uj.on  the  bVeedinj? ""herd '''' 

Estimates  of  Tum-breeilins  seals  ...                    ^ 

The  reeouHtruetion  still  only  an  estimate ***' 

Comjdeted  estimate *' 

1!.   I'resont  eonditions ><!' 

The  census "*' 

Its  diiriciilty '"• 

Actual  counts !•<) 

Kitovi  rookery  taken  as  typical.!!         "** 

< 'cnsus  of  har.'uis  and  .ows '" 

Orijriual  counts  for  St.  George . '" 

Kstinmte  for  St.  (ieorgo  ...."... "' 

This  estimate  un.siitisfactory "' 

The  great  excess  of  pups "2 

C'(Miutof  pups itt! 

Correction  for alpsent  cows **- 

Sunun.iry  of  liree.Iiug  seals...! "'* 

Kevision  „(•  ,.,.nsu8  of  l«9t! ";* 

Corrections  on  St.  (ieorge ', ''■• 

(,'orrectioiis  on  St.  I'aul "•' 

Sivutch  1,'oik " 'M 

The  important  error  in  the  census" of' 18% "^ 

Kevised  census  of  IS'IG  9-* 

Tlio  value  of  tliis  census  ,[/_ "•"' 

The  census  of  ijSiiT ito 

Tho  count  of  pups  in  1897  !•«> 

Comparison  of  counts  of  cow's  nu.l  p'n'ps *' 

Proportion  of  cows  to  pups "" 

Avera^'e  harem  of  Kito\  i ^> 

Ci'ususof  1897 )t7 

"  !>7 


10 


TAHLK    OP   CONTENTS. 


(."HAi'TKB        VI.— Thk  Condition  ok  thk  Fni  Seal  1Ikhi>— Coiitinnml.  Page. 
IJ.  rrcscnt  couditiona — Continued. 

Us  value !t7 

The  ('niiiiieration  of  nonbret-ding  seals 9(S 

Idle  and  half  bMlls 98 

The  liachflors !t8 

Itejected  seals !»8 

The  one  and  two  year  old  females !()t 

The  losses  nu\onn  the  yimufj  seals itil 

The  estimates  of  nonbreeding  seals }l!t 

The  completed  estimate  lor  animals  of  all  elasses 100 

Animals  present,  season  of  tW' 100 

Deductions  for  losses 100 

Animals  dead,  season  of  1M97 100 

The  value  of  the  estimate 101 

The  true  basis  of  enumeration 101 

('HArTEK         VII.— The  Dkci.ixk  or  the  IIekd; 

Kussian  management 102 

(iradual  improvement  in  methods 102 

The  equilibrium  of  the  herd 102 

The  beginning  of  decline 102 

The  failure  of  the  quota 103 

The  breeding  herd 103 

Till'  quota  since  18it0  103 

Quota  of  1894-95 103 

The  evidence  of  decline 104 

Abandoned  grounds 104 

Their  extent 104 

( irass-grown  areas 104 

Time  necessary  to  establish  these  areas 1()."> 

Photographs 10.5 

Between  sueeessive  seasons  inadequate 105 

Their  value  covering  long  periods 105 

Their  record  of  the  abandonment  of  territory lOt! 

Their  limitations 106 

Their  relations  to  daily  rookery  eouuts 106 

The  true  value  of  photographs 107 

Townseud's  crosses 107 

Shrinkage  of  breeding  area 107 

Tolstoi  sand  tiat,  Ardiguen,  etc 107 

Decrease  of  dead  jinps 108 

Dead  pups,  1896-97 108 

Increased  mortality  among  the  cows 108 

The  diminished  quota 108 

The  decline  between  1896  and  1S97 109 

Comparative  counts 109 

Actual  I'ounts 109 

Summary  of  percentages 110 

Decrease  in  the  average  si/e  of  harem HO 

The  count  of  cows 1 10 

The  count  of  pups  an  absolute  measure 110 

Lagoon  rookery Ill 

The  cpiotas  of  1896  and  1897 Ill 

The  quota  of  1896  fixed Ill 

The  (|iiota  of  1897  iudelinite HI 

Killings  for  the  quota,  18!)6-97 112-113 


Chaptei! 


ClIAPTKH 


Chaptku 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS.  j^ 

VII.— TirK  nECLiNK  OF  THE  HERD-Continiie.l. 

T\w  evidence  of  decline— Contiiiii.d.  ^'*^" 

'I'lie  (|iiota  of  18!)7  harder  to  jjct 

The  (Hiota  a  direct  nieasiiio  of  l.rcediiig  herd 

The,|uotaof  18!t7  and  the  I'aris  regulations. .!.'.' ,,! 

The  total  decline  in  the  herd  

VIII. -The  Caise  of  the  1)e(i,ine:            ^^'* 

•Joint  a<;recment  of  ]«02 

No  coMipctent  natural  lause ^''.' 

Natural  cause.s  of  niort.ility  constant ....][[.[[.. ?'? 

The  real  cauNe  an  artidcial  one " 

l-and  and  sea  killinjr ^^^ 

A.  Laud  killing:— its  methods ^^^ 

Auiuials  killed " ^"| 

Killing  Neason ''*' 

The  driving '. ^It*  ■ 

The  drive ] ^"' 

The  killing [['' 117 

The  Aleuts .....]..[[. "'"^ 

The  skiuniuK  of  the  seals ^^** 

Division  of  labor '  ^'* 

Treatuientof  the  skins  ........ ^^..' '^** 

The  effects  of  laud  killinjf ^^^ 

Removal  of  snperlluous  male  llfi.'l.enehVia'l "'* 

Possibility  of  overkilliuff ^■^" 

A  hypothetical  case ." ..' ^^^ 

Such  killing  not  practicabl.' ^'^^ 

Otter  Island  not  driven '"^ 

Defective  skins 1-1 

Overkilling  of  males  has  not  occurred '"' 

Statistics  of  the  quota '^l 

Laud  killing.  1870-97 ^'^'"^ 

^'oluntary  reduction  of  quota.  187t;l-7 ^"" 

Voluntary  reduction,  1882-83...               ^-- 

No  dearth  of  male  life " " " ^'■i^ 

Killing  of  males  not  a  factor  in  decline '^- 

Prematuro  killing 123 

Antici|.aiion  of  quota ..^ ^^3 

Tableshowingdateofiilling  quota  "etc ^"^ 

The  killing  of  unchasizcd  seals . . . .  '         '^'^ 

Such  killing  did  not  allect  the  herd    ^'^* 

Premature  killing  wasteful  but  not  inimious ,'^f 

KUIiugof  pups  wasteful '  1-^ 

Absence  of  injury  to  the  herd.... ^-* 

Methods  on  the  Commander  Islands '-•"• 

I >r.  Stejneger's  observations  1-'"' 

I\      Tm-  T,,..  '^'"••^^'"•"'"'■■""lolil'M.u  Iteriug  Island;:: If 

l)riviug  and  its  suppo.sed  results 

The  luocess  of  driving l-l' 

The  animal  driven 12(1 

The  theory  intangible 127 

Its  logical  <onclu8iiui : 127 

The  drives  and  driveways  ...         1^7 

128 


12 


TAULK    OF   C0NTKNT8. 


ClIAI'TKK            IX.— TlIK   TllF.OUV   OK   OVKIll>lll\lXli— (NllltillUOll.  l>agc. 

'rb<>  KiiHsiaii  <1riveH I'M 

Tlic  ilrivt!  from  Nortlienst  I'niiit 12S 

Tlif  AmtTicau  drives VJii 

Tlie  ilri v»'8  greatly  Nliorteiicd 129 

Kef  driveway 12it 

The  cliarai^ter  of  the  route 125) 

The  length  of  the  drive VM) 

C'onipariHoii  of  drives 130 

The  Commander  driveways IHO 

/apadiii ,.  130 

I'ahit  a 131 

No  evil  results  from  these  drives 131 

Care  exercised  in  driving 131 

The  fur  seal  not  ill-adapted  to  land  travel 131 

The  "  carcass-strewn  "  driveways 132 

Fatalities  on  the  drives 132 

Injuries  to  bachelors  could  not  atVect  herd 132 

The  impossibility  of  sexual  injury 133 

Voluntary  movements  of  the  males 133 

Driving  not  a  factor  in  the  decline 133 

ClIAPTEl!  X. — Al.I.KCEl)    TossniLK   ClIANtiK    OK    HAHII'S: 

Migration  to  Commander  Islands 134 

The  tixity  of  habits 134 

The  seal's  low  intelligence 134 

Contact  with  man  has  had  no  cti'ect » 135 

Alteration  of  conditions i;tr> 

The  bachelors  of  Itering  Island 135 

Arbitrary  solection  of  males 136 

The  effect  of  decline 130 

I'ossibility  of  driving  the  seals  elsewhere 136 

The  abandonment  of  Si.ilki 137 

The  presence  of  the  villii       not  the  cause 137 

Kxposed  condition  of  Lagoon  rookery  137 

The  real  cause  of  the  ahandonuient 137 

Origin  of  Lagoon  and  Spilki 138 

Abaudimmeut  of  Maruuicheu 138 

KUiott's  theory  for  Sivutch  rookery 138 

Si vutch  overlooked  in  1S72-1S74 138 

The  notions  of  the  Aleuts 139 

These  notions  shared  by  (lovernnient  agents 139 

The  policy  of  seclusion  detrimental 140 

Intelligent  inspection  not  wanton  iuvnsitui 140 

Ins|>eetion  not  harmful  140 

Relations  of  nmn  have  not  aiVected  the  seals 141 

t'HAPTKIl  XI. — I'KI.Atili;   SKAI.ING,  OK    KlM.INU   AT   SEA  ; 

The  nature  of  pelagic  sealing 142 

The  hunting  of  the  Indians 142 

Introduction  of  white  nn-n  and  vessi-ls 142 

The  expansion  of  the  industry 142 

The  use  of  firearms 143 

The  modus  vivendi  143 

The  regulations  of  the  I'aris  a  ward 113 

The  sealing  vessels 143 

Methods  of  sealing 144 

The  seals  as  fcmnd 144 

Methods  of  capture — the  spear 144 


mmm 


TAHLF,   OF    CONTKNTS. 


13 


CllArXKR            XI.— I'F.I.AIilf   Si'.AI.INd,  OR    Kir.l.INIi    AT    SKA— rontillUfd.  ]•»)•«. 

Tlio  nhootiiiK  of  tin-  seiils HI 

Loss  resultiiiK  from  sbootiiig M"> 

The  spear  loOHt  wiistffiil 115 

Northwest  t' oast  sf'iiliiijr 146 

itoriug  Seaseiiliii"; 110 

I'elrtKic  ciitcli Ut> 

Does  uot  iiii'liide  snils  killed,  lint  lost 1 17 

Karl.vseHliiiK  eon  lined  to  Pribilof  herd 147 

8u8|ieiision  of  land  killinj; 147 

Modus  Vivendi  transferred  sealing;  to  Asiatie  si(h' 147 

Decline  of  the  ciiteh 148 

I'nfavoralile  wciither  not  the  cause 148 

i'elagic  killiuf;  iind  land  killinj;  roni|iared 14M 

Statistics  rej;ardin<;  land  and  sea  killin;f 149 

The  period  from  18T1-1S8L' 149 

Growth  of  the  catch 149 

Kelation  of  gains  and  losses  in  the  herd 149 

I'eriod  snhsci|nent  to  18M1'   150 

Kx]ianBioii  of  iiela)i;ii';  decrease  of  lanil  seal  in j; 150 

Cause  of  decline  ti>  bo  soiiijht  in  breed ing  herd 150 

The  beKiniiinu  of  the  tied i no 151 

Karly  pelagic  sealinj;  a  mere  check 151 

Irregnlar  <|nota  since  1890 151 

I'elagic  sealing  and  the  Coniniander  herd 152 

Interrelation  of  pelagic  and  land  catches 153 

ClUI'TKR  XII.— TlIK    El'l  KCT   <)l     PKI.AlilC   SEAI.INC: 

I'elagic  sealing  kills  females 153 

I'elagic  sealing  and  the  sealing  of  the  South  Seas 153 

Methods  of  southern  scaling 1,53 

"Indi^!C^imiuate"  uot  "excessive" 154 

The  prepon<lerauce  of  females 154 

Tho  sealing  captains'  record  of  sexes  taken 1.54 

Cnstonis-house  examination  by  experts 155 

Contrast  of  sex  retnrus 1.55 

The  sex  of  salted  skins  easily  determined 155 

Investigations  of  Alexander  and  Ilalkett 1.55 

Females  more  easily  taken 15() 

The  capture  of  males  not  important I. Mi 

Possibility  of  eipiilibrium 15(i 

Ki|uilibrium  a  theoretical  fact 1.57 

Death  from  old  age 1,57 

A  hypothetical  civse 1,57 

I'ossiMe  abstraction  of  females 1,57 

.Secondary  loss  of  pups 1.58 

I'elagic  catch  still  involves  1(!  per  cent 158 

I'elagic  catch  unist  still  fall  to  one-thir<l  before  equilibrium I5« 

The  equilibrium  could  not  be  maintained 15)1 

Equilibrium  exists  only  far  below  commercial  ruin 159 

Destruction  of  unborn  pups Itit) 

Females  pregnant  and  nursing 160 

Pelagic  sealing  takes  com]iound  interest KM) 

Destruction  of  nursing  pups 160 

Pups  dependent  upon  milk  until  December 160 

Tho  absence  of  excrement 161 

Tho  supposed  uoufceding  of  females 161 


1 


14 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 


ClIAI'TEk         XII.— TlIK    EkKKCI'   ok   PKLAUIC   SKAI.INIi— Coiltilllled.  I'Bge. 

Almonce  of  food  in  Btomachs liil 

The  Heal  dlKeatH  its  food  in  the  water ItiU 

Absurd  tlieory  of  iiidiscriiiiinati'  nursing 162 

Fur-seal  mother  aud  pup 162 

MiHtakon  olt.servatioiiN IC>'2 

Supposed  self-fctMliug  of  pups 163 

The  absurdity  of  the  tlicory 163 

Doterniinatioii  of  the  luatter  li.v  killing  pups U>3 

Pups  aliHohitely  dopeiuleut  upou  mothers'  milk 164 

CitArTKK      XIII.— The  Stakvation  of  I'li-s: 

The  count  of  starved  pups 1H5 

l<o>rinning8  of  starvation 165 

Notes  on  starvinjj  pups 16."> 

The  hungry  pup 166 

Tlu!  lircakingdowu 166 

Tlie  death  of  the  starveling 166 

Difficulty  of  distinguishing  early  dead  pups 166 

Many  early  dead  pups  disappear 167 

Starving  puj)s 167 

The  work  of  the  foxes 167 

Dead  pups,  St.  (ieorgc  Island 167 

■{ecoustruction  of  St.  (ieorge  estlniutes 168 

The  detailed  estimate 168 

Pup  statistics 169 

The  count  of  starved  pups  in  18i>7 169 

The  removal  of  the  early  deiid 170 

EstiMiute  of  stnrved  pui)s  for  1897 170 

Importanci'  of  tliesc  ligures 170 

Destructive  ett'cctsof  pelagic  sealing  estahlislied 170 

The  cumulative  clfoct 171 

Total  ell'ect  of  pelagic  sealing 171 

The  effect  since  1883 171 

The  etfect  under  the  P.aris  regulations 172 

CiiAriKK      .\IV.— Ki'i-Kcr  or  Pelacic  Skai.inu  on  the  .'^eai.  Skin  Indi'stuy: 

International  interest  in  the  fur  seals 173 

I'nited  States  interests 173 

Russian  interests 174 

The  interest  of  (irciit  liritain 174 

Canadian  pelagic  sealing  interests 174 

Valuation  of  the  lleet 174 

Pelagic  sealing  suicidal 175 

Ktiect  of  the  declining  catch 175 

Legality  of  pelagic  H<'aling 175 

Pi      ibitiou  to  Americans 176 

Distinctly  a  Canadian  industry 176 

Chaitek       XV.— Thk  Uesii.ts  of  the  Pauis  Awabic 

A.  The  arbitration 177 

The  origin  of  the  fur  seal  question 177 

The  sei/.ure  of  vessels 177 

Ertorts  to  secure  intermvtional  action 177 

Proposed  measures  of  protectitm 177 

Objection  by  Canada 178 

,                                            l{eu<'wal  of  negotiations 178 

The  counter  proposition  unsatisfactory 178 

Proposals  for  arbitration 178 


TABLK  OP  CONTENTS.  jk 

CUnKH       XV.-TMK  Kks,„,,s  ok  ,„k  P.k,s  Aw.K,.-C.,„r„.,.o.l. 

A.   llieiiil.itiation— Contiiiiicd.  '''"■''' 

'I'lie  modus  viveiiili 

Tho  Joint  coiuiiiiHsion  <»(  iiH|iiirv..                     ''" 

The  tribunal '.  ._ '^" 

Tbe Joint  report  of  the  oonimission...... 'P* 

The  Aiiicriciiii  couteiitioii '"'* 

The  Uritish  conteution ''   '^*^ 

Their  coiiipiiriitiveiiieritN "^*' 

li.  The  regulations "^" 

Tlie  minor  provisions "*** 

The  sixty -inilo  zone '^" 

The  elo.se  Neason "^' 

KegulatioMsiHliipted  to  worli  of  sealers '**' 

The  cost  ol'  enCorcinjr  the  regulations. . !'.".' ||^^ 

The  lailiireof  the  re;.ulationH '^ 

The  ie.leen.inK  lii.'tnre  of  the  regulations .'.'.'; \f, 

Ihe  purpose  of  arbitrators "'- 

CiivPrre      Yvi      c                ''•''' '''••witi<'"t"l>r..t.TtMn.lpre'8e'rve;.' !^'^ 

Statements  of  fact. 

CIIAPTEU     XVII.-TIIE    KkmeIJV    ,.oU   TIMO    Dk.'UNk' iu'   TME  'iIkuI.  • '■ ^^^'^*^' 

Revision  of  the  regulations  not  ade(, Mate 

I'elagic  sealing  ,,,„  not  exist  without  th-  UilVing  of Ven'iVles '^^ 

Total  proi  l.iti.mof  iii|.|,.i,.  H....ii„,r  fi.        ,  '"'"''les 1^7 

A  ieeon,sideration  of  tlie  .(uestion 

A  basis  for  the  reopening  of  the  .sul.jeVt '***^ 

bindings  of  faet— the  deeline ' '«« 

Slow  rate  of  increase  in  tlie  herd       ***^ 

Males  tan  be  killed  with  impunity '«« 

K.\c<-S8ivo  destruction  of  females."                "**' 

Compromise  lindings '' I«!t 

Tlie  herd  ('(unmereiallv  ruined      "<!* 

Pelagic  sealing  incompatible  with ■preservaii;;„ "*'* 

Ihe  skin  ofthefcMuile  to  Im.  contraband  '^" 

Ihe  proposed  extermination  by  slauobter  o.Vh',1'.'. 'T  ■' '*>*<' 

Lnportaneeofthe  fur  seal  heril  .   .  "'^  ."..ker.es ,,,„ 

,,  -^  "'''"I'Kiiiieleus  remains  li'O 

LIIA1'TI:H       XIX.  — b'KCO.MMKNDATIOXs: 1<M> 

Inadeciuaey  of  past  knowledge. . 

The  (ioveniment  agents  m.t  Civesti-aVoVs ""^ 

I'ailure  to  understand  conditious  ...  l"l 

The  wild-animal  poliey l!tl 

l"iek  of  fait  Ii  in  our  methods....'" 'it» 

U'as'efnl  management ^ 1!»2 

|n.o  two  vital  .|i:,.8tioirs  yet  uiilvnown "'^ 

Ihe  fixing  of  th,>  .|uota  ...  1(»2 

Qiiestions  whieh  re,,uire  eonViuiumsVtud v '"=* 

A  faxed  quota  not  desirable "    I!t3 

The  proportion  of  males  needed"'' K't 

Minor  problems.  ..  194 

An.KMHx    r.-«tatistS'':T!"''':'"r!!"''^'"'«^^  m 

Table  of  killings ' I97 

Summary  of  totals '. 1<J"-1'07 

207 


' 


16  TAHLE    OF    CONTENTS. 

Ai'i'KNDix      I.— Stati8tic8— Contiiiiu'il.  Page. 

KillingH,  North we«t.  l'oiut-/ii{iii(liii 207 

Total  souIh  killed — accepted,  rejected 208-20!) 

Killings,  18!»() '. ...".....  209 

KilliuK8,  1897 210 

Svitistics  of  liiiid  und  hch  killing 211 

Daily  counts  ol'  cows 212 

Compurati ve  I'ensiis 213 

Pup  BtiitisticN,  IMilt; 213 

Doad  pups,  18H7 214 

AniiTii'iiu  I'lii-Hi'ul  cjitcli,  1894 215 

Canadiiiii  I'ui'-hcuI  catch.  1894 216 

Ainericau  and  Canadian  catcli.  1895 217 

Amoricuu  and  Canadian  cntch,  1X90 219 

American  and  Canadian  catcb.  1897 220-221 

StatiBtics  of  pelagic  catch 222-225 

Per<'eutaKc  of  f<!nialeH 225 

Value  of  pelajjic  llect 226 

Cape  1  loin  seals 226 

liObos  seals 226 

Ai'i'EKDix    II. — Documents. 

Modus  Vivendi 227 

Arbitration  treaty 22f<-231 

Award  of  the  tribunal 2H1-234 

The  regulations 234 

Declarations 236 

Alaska  Commercial  Company's  lease 236 

North  American  Commercial  Company's  lease 238 

The  conference  of  fur-seal  experts 240 

.Joint  statement  of  conclusions 241 

Furriers'  affidavits  regarding  sex. 244 

The  law  prohibiting  sealing  by  .Vmericans 246 

Appendix  III.— Illustrations 247 


f 


f 


CIIAI'TKIf     I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

THE  OCCASION  OF  THE  INQUIRY. 

The  pHiseiit  iii(|iiiiy  into  the  condition  iuid  nueds  of  the  fur  seal  ht-rds  of  the  Noitli 
I'aciHe  Ocean  and  Borina'  Sea  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  belief  on  the  part  of  tlie  Tnited 
States  tliat  the  reguhitions  forinuhited  by  tlie  Paris  Tribunal  of  Arbitration  for  "  tlie 
protection  and  preservation  of  the  fur  seal"  iiad  failed  to  aceompliah  their  avowed 
object.  The  inadeciuacy  of  these  regulations  was  apparent  at  the  close  of  the  lirst 
season  of  their  operation,  and  each  succeeding  season  has  only  rendered  it  more 
conspicuous.  Failing  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  Great  liritain  in  the  immediate 
revision  of  the  regulations,  the  United  States  la  the  spring  of  IH'Mi  accepted  ilie 
proposal  of  Great  Britain  for  a  scientific  investigation  of  tlie  whole  subject,  t(t  be 
made  Independently  by  each  nation,  the  results  of  such  an  Investigation  to  form  the 
basls.of  a  reconsideration  of  tlie  regulations  at  tiio  end  of  the  specKied  trial  period  ot 
five  years. 

THE  ACT  OF  CONGRESS. 

Tlie  act  of  Congress  under  which  the  present  commission  of  investigation  for  the 
United  States  was  organized  is  as  follows: 

llenoliml  III)  the  Stnalc  ami  lloiinr  of  lli'invsi  iitaliivii  of  lliv  I'nititi  Sialea  of  Amirim  in  VoiiiirfnH 
axiKitililed,  Tliiit  the  Sccrctiiry  of  tliu  'I'loiisiiry  be,  and  is  licreby,  authiiii/cil  to  expiuKl,  fioiii  ;iii.v 
luoiK^VH  ill  the  Tieasun  not  otherwise  iipproiniatetl,  a  sum  sufflcicnt  to  provide  for  the  einploynifiil 
of  ])er80U8  to  conduct  a  scioutilic  iiiv<'8ti(fation,  during  the  fiscal  years  I'ijihteen  liiiiidred  and 
ninety-six  and  eighteen  liiindr<'d  and  ninety-seven,  of  the  present  eondition  of  tlie  fur-seal  herds  on 
till)  I'rihihif,  Coniiiiaiider,  and  Kuril  islands  in  the  North  I'acilie  Ocean  an<l  IJeriiig  Sea,  said  aiiiomit 
not  to  exceod  for  lioth  said  years  the  sum  of  five  tliousand  dollars. 

The  Secretary  is  also  antliorizod  to  employ  a  stenographer  in  connection  with  this  investigation 
at  a  rate  of  coni)iensation  not  exceeding  one  thousand  live  hundred  didlars  per  annum,  and  to  jiay  his 
conipeiisation  and  cxjienses  out  of  any  moneys  in  the  Treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated. 

The  President  is  authorized  to  detail,  for  tlii'  purposes  of  assisting  in  this  investigalioii,  any 
otlicer  or  otiicers  or  eniploycMS  of  the  I'nited  States  Governnient.  their  actual  ex|ienses  and  tlu! 
expenses  of  the  pi'i'soii  or  peisons  em)doyed  under  the  preceding  [laragraph  to  lie  paid  hy  the 
Secretary  of  the  Tn  asury  out  of  any  luoiieys  in  the  Treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated. 

The  I'li'sideut  may  detail  a  vessel  of  the  I'nited  States  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  this 
investigation. 

THE  COMMISSION. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  act,  Dr.  David  Starr  Jordan,  president  of  Leland 
Stanford  Junior  University,  was  appointed  commissioner  In  charge  of  the  Investiga- 
tion, and  with  him  were  detailed  as  associates  Lieut.  (Jommaiider  .Jefferson  F.  Moser, 
commanding  the  United  States  Fish  Commission  steamer  Albatross;   Dr.  riconhard 

17 
15184 2 


IR 


THIi;   FUH   8EAL8   OF   THE   I'RIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


Stcjneger,  curator  of  roptilcH,  I'liitoil  States  National  Museum;  Mr.  Frederic  A. 
liUcas,  (Mirator  of  comparative  anatomy,  United  iStiites  National  Museum,  and 
Mr.  Cliarlcs  II.  Town.scnd,  naturalist  of  the  Albntrons.  Mr.  Oeorj^e  Archibald  Clark, 
I>re8ideDt''s  scciretary  of  Stanford  Uirivcraity,  was  appnintod  secretary  to  tlu^  coinniis- 
sion,  and  Col.  Joseph  Murray,  of  Fort  Collins,  (Jolo.,  formerly  United  States  Treasury 
agent  at  Ht.  i'aul  Island,  aiul  reai)i)ointed  in  1897  to  the  same  position,  was  made 
special  assistant. 

(Ireat  liritain  named  as  her  commission  of  investigation  Prof.  IVArcy  Wentworth 
Thompson,  «)f  University  College,  Dundee,  Scotland;  Mr.  (lerald  K.  H.  Barrett- 
Hamilton,  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  Mr.  James  Melville  Macoun,  of  the  Geologi(;al 
Survey  of  Canada.  The  Canadian  goverununt  detailed  Mr.  Andrew  Halkett  to 
make  special  investigation  of  the  oi)erations  of  the  pelagic  tleet. 

THE  SCOPE  OF  THE  WORK. 


In  his  letter  of  instructions  to  the  commission,  under  date  of  .linic  l.'i,  liS9<i,  lion. 
Charles  Sumner  Ilamliu,  then  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  outlined  the 
general  scope  and  purpose  of  the  investigation,  as  follows: 

Voiir  liiiiil  I'oport  will  lie  expoctcd  tu  itUatu  inori!  Hiiecilically  to  tlic  Kroii]i  of  seiils  wliicli  resort 
to  the  I'riliilof  iHlaiidH,  )iut  tbit  AHJutic  hcnl  niii.v  \w  invoHtigateil  to  hucIi  extent  as  Ni'etiiB  uilvisuMc 
in  order  to  att'onl  the  opportniiity  for  institntint;  comparisons  from  wliich  ini]>ortant  (IvdnctionH  niuy 
lie  readied. 

Tlio  |irin('i|ial  object  of  tbls  invcHtigat'oii  is  to  deturniinc  b,v  prvcinc  and  detaib'd  obHcrvalion.s, 
fiixt,  tilt-  prcHent  condition  of  the  American  fur-seal  herd;  Heiond,  tbe  nature  and  innnineneu  of  the 
eauHes,  if  any,  which  ap])ear  to  threaten  its  exterrninatiou;  third,  what,  if  any,  benefits  have  been 
secured  to  the  lienl  throu>rh  the  operation  of  the  act  of  ('ou|;ruHs  uud  act  of  I'arliamcnt  based  upon 
tbe  award  by  tbe  I'ai'is  Tribunal  of  Arbitration;  fourth,  what,  if  any,  additional  protective  measures 
ou  bind  or  at  sea,  or  chan>;es  in  the  present  system  of  re^culations  as  to  the  doseil  season,  prohibited 
zone,  prohibition  of  lirearuis,  etc.,  are  reipiired  to  insure  the  preservation  of  the  fur-seal  herd. 

Your  inquiries  should  furthermore  be  extended,  in  so  far  as  the  time  and  circumstances  permit, 
to  embrace  the  cousiderution  of  all  important  iiuestions  relalinj;  to  the  natural  history  of  the  seals, 
both  at  sea  aud  on  the  islands,  with  special  reference  to  their  bearing  upon  the  sealing  industry. 

To  this  general  plan  of  intjuiry  was  apitended  the  following  list  of  sjieciHc 
questions: 

1.  The  effect  of  pelagic  sealing  \n  the  Xorth  Pacific  Ocean  and  llering  Sea  upon  tlie  fur-.seal 
herd,  due  account  being  taken  of  the  classes  of  seals  killed. 

2.  What  elVcct,  if  any,  has  the  annual  removal  of  bachelor  seals,  which  has  taken  place  on  the 
I'ribilof  Islands,  had  upon  the  fur-seal  herd  f 

The  solution  of  these  two  ([uesticuis  inv(dves  a  study  of  the  entire  subject  of  the  regulations  of 
the  two  sexes  and  the  ]iroporti()n  of  the  uuile  seals  rei|uired  to  be  preserved  in  order  to  maintain  the 
stability  of  the  herd. 

3.  Whether  killing  on  land  or  sea  has  interfered  with  tlie  regular  haliits  uud  occupation  of  tbe 
islands  by  the  held,  or  has  o]ierated  to  reduce  the  strength  of  the  seal  race  as  a  whole  by  a  natural 
selection. 

4.  The  propriety  of  existing  methods  of  driving  seals  from  the  hauling  grounds  to  the  killing 
grounds,  culling,  aud  other  practices  connected  therewith. 

5.  The  cause  of  the  destruction  of  nursing  pu]is  upon  the  islands. 

During  the  seasons  of  ISitt  and  189.")  about  20,000  and  ;{0,000  dead  pujis,  respectively,  were  found 
upon  the  islands.  Yon  should  specially  consider  the  causes  of  their  death,  whether  from  starvation 
or  other  cause,  preserving  specimens  whenever  practicable. 

().  The  extent,  date,  and  ouiise  of  mortality  on  the  islands  of  seals  of  all  classes. 


SUII.IECT8    FOli    INVESTIGATION. 


lf» 


7,  'I'hu  liri'i'ilin){  liitliits  ot  thu  huiiIh,  with  Hpot^ia)  rolcrt'iicu  to  tho  ii);r  iit  wliicli  l\\p  I'oiiiiiliM  lir^in 
or  coaHi'  to  Itrt'iiil,  and  tlic  frei|iiuiify  of  tlio  brt'eilin^,  wliutlirr  iiiiniiully  or  iit  Imi^vr  iiitcrx^ilH. 

X.  Tlio  I'onilition  ol  feiiiiilu  senU  taken  iit  xea,  an  to  iiiirMiii);  iiiiil  |irt>)riiaii<'.v. 

!).  Tliu  iliHtiiiii'e  w  liii'h  tint  scvitral  claNrtuH  of  Hralx  go  from  th<>  iHlantlH  iiinl  tlio  iliroctioutt  wliicli 
tliry  take  ill  suarcli  of  food  or  rcHt  at  dilVemit  tiiiiuM  (luring  the  HeaHon. 

10.  Tlio  actual  (IcrrciiHc  if  any,  In  tlie  niiiiilior  of  HvalH  in  uacli  claxN  on  tlic  I'riliilof  iNlaiuU 
wliii'li  luiH  ocnirrud  during  tin-  piiHt  yeiir,  and  also  nIiu'o  the  yenr  18!H),  iiiid  Hiiici'  tlii<  yitur  1S70.  A 
rai'ofiil  reuHiis  of  tlir  I'ookorieH  ahoiild  liu  taken  tbis  Huason  fur  roni|iariNiin  with  tlie  onuiiicration 
inadt'  in  I8!ir>  and  |ii'i'viouM  vearN. 

11.  An  uMiiiiination  of  tlio  iiucHtion  as  to  the  cliaracter  of  the  food  of  fur  hiniIs. 

12.  Whotlior  tlio  I'rildlof  iNlaiid  liord  of  fur  souls  interminglo  with  tlio  Asiatio  herds  of  tliu 
C'oiiiiiiauder  or  Kuril  i.shinds. 

IH.  Whother  uiirsiug  soula  niiiMit  other  tbuii  their  own  |iu|m  on  I  ho  islands. 


THE   INVESTIGATIONS. 

Acting  uiidur  thusu  iiistnictiuiiH  the  cuiiiuiissiuii  uf  invustigatidii  liavu  made  a 
detailed  inspection  and  Htndy  of  tiie  habits,  condition,  and  needs  o\'  the  I'l-iiiilot' 
Islands  herd,  with  a  conipreliensive  and  almost  equally  exhaustive  study  of  the  herds 
of  the  Commaudia-  and  Kuril  islands.  The  main  results  of  our  investiyutions  lor  the 
season  of  18!>G  have  already  been  published  by  the  Treasury  Department  in  the  form 
<»f  a  preliminary  report.* 

The  work  during  the  season  of  1890  was  sutlicieut  to  jirove  the  depleted  condition 
of  the  herd  and  to  point  out  the  cause  of  its  threatened  destruction.  It,  however, 
showed  clearly  that  all  preceding  calculations  as  to  the  number  of  seals  resorting  to 
the  Pribilof  Islands  were  useless  for  purpo.ses  of  comiiarison,  being  grossly  exaggerated 
in  the  early  years  of  American  control,  and  as  largely  underestimated  in  the  later  years 
through  a  misapprehension  of  the  actual  conditions  of  ro(»kery  life.  It  therefore 
became  impossible  to  form  an  accurate  estimate  of  the  relatise  conditions  i)f  the 
breeding  herd  or  of  the  rate  of  its  decline.  The  work  of  investigation  was  therefore 
continued  during  the  season  of  1S!>7,  and  its  sui)plemental  results  have  been  embodied 
in  «M)ndensed  form  in  a  second  preliminary  report  t  which  has  recently  been  published 
by  the  Treasury  Department.  It  now  remains  for  us  to  bring  into  the  shape  of  a 
final  report  the  completed  results  of  our  labors.  In  accordance  with  th»^  broad  scope 
of  our  instrmrtions  we  have  endeavored,  so  far  as  opportunity  aflbrded,  to  consider 
"all  important  questions  relating  to  the  natural  history  of  the  seals,  both  at  sea  and 
on  the  islands,''  and  the  work  has  therefore  become  very  voluminous. 

THE    REPORT. 

This  report  naturally  falls  into  four  parts  or  divisions.  In  Part  I  tue  main 
phases  of  the  fur-seal  controversy  have  been  taken  up  and  discussed  at  length,  such 
historical  matters  as  seem  necessary  for  a  clear  understanding  of  the  matter  being 
added.  lu  this  general  discussion  the  results  of  more  detailed  studies  on  special 
topics,  which  appear  in  Part  III,  are  freely  used  and  the  original  studies  referred  to 
for  more  complete  information.  Part  I,  therefore,  becomes  a  complete  report  in  itself 
of  the  investigation  so  far  as  the  general  condition,  needs,  and  possibilities  of  the 
Pribilof  Islands  herd  of  fur  seal  are  concerned. 


•  Oliservations  on  the  Fur  Souls  of  the  Pribilof  Islands,  .Jordan,  1S96. 

tSooond  Preliminary  Report  of  the  Bering  Sea  Fiir-Seal  Investigations,  .Imiliiii,  isit". 


20 


THE   FUtt   SEALb  OF  THE   rRIUILOF   ISLANDH. 


Ill  I'lirt  II  is  (fivoii  tlio  niiiiiito  and  detiiilud  joiiriml  (/4' daily  olmurviitiniis  of  tliu 
iiiciiiliurs  of  the  voiiiiiiissioii.  This  recurd,  being  the  chief  basis  for  the  coiicliisiuiiH 
ill  tiif  ^i'licral  report,  becoinos  a  most  important  part  of  the  work.  To  it  is  appeiid«'<l 
an  abstract  of  the  record  in  tiio  loj?  of  St.  Taiil  Island  for  the  pa><t  twenty-seven 
years,  in  so  tar  as  it  ]iei'taiiis  to  tlic  life  history,  and  habits  of  the  seals. 

The  third  divisiim  of  tlie  report  <;oiitaiiis  the  series  of  special  papers  and  reports, 
already  referred  to,  which  deal  with  varions  jihasesof  the  life  history,  uioveiiicnts  and 
the  surnmiidinKS  of  tiie  seals,  and  which  have  been  prepared  by  ditfcrent  members 
of  the  cominissioii  and  by  varioaa  specialists.  These  take  up  in  miniite  detail  hucIi 
phases  of  the  Biibject  as  have  important  bearing  on  the  fur  seal  question. 

In  Tart  IV  are  included  the  reports  for  the  seasons  of  18JM)  and  l.S!t7  by  Dr. 
Stejneger  on  the  Commander  and  Kuril  islands,  which  form  a  continuation  of  his 
more  extended  investigations  in  the  season  of  18!(5,  the  results  of  which  have  already 
been  published.*  To  the  reports  on  the  roninniiider  herd  such  reference  as  has  been 
necessary  to  throw  lijrht  upon  the  condition  of  the  I'ribilof  herd  have  been  made  in 
the  general  discussion. 

ITINERARY,  1896. 

The  I'nited  States  Fish  Commission  steamer  AllxttrusH,  with  the  American  com- 
mission and  Professor  Thompson  and  .Mr.  Macouii,  of  the  Itritish  commission,  left 
Seattle  on  the  morning  of  June  L'4,  arriving  at  St.  (ieorge  Island,  Bering  Sea,  on  the 
alternoon  of  .Inly  8.  .Inly  !>,  10,  and  11  were  spent  in  and  about  this  island  making 
general  observations,  photographing  the  rookeries,  and  counting  the  breediii'  cals. 
The  time  between  .July  12  and  18  was  occupied  in  similar  work  on  St.  Paul  I      nd. 

•Inly  18  the  AUmttoss  steamed  for  I'nalaska,  leaving  Mr.  Towusend  then-  and 
taking  Dr.  Stejneger  to  the  Commander  Islands.  July  30  to  August  !>  were  spent 
about  these  islands,  August  2li  to  -'(>  about  the  Kurils,  and  August  28  to  September  2 
about  liobbeu  Island,  reaching  Hakodate,  Japan,  September  10. 

On  July  28  Mr.  Lucas,  Professor  Thompson,  and  <  "oloiiel  Murray  visited  St.  Cieorge 
Island,  the  tirst  two  returning  to  St.  Paul  on  August  5.  Mr,  Towusend  returned  from 
l-iialaska  August  s,  and  be  and  Mr.  Lucas  spent  the  time  until  the  12th  at  sea,  on 
board  the  Rush,  boarding  vessels  of  the  sealing  tleet, 

August  <S  to  14,  inclusive,  was  occupied  in  counting  dead  pups  on  St.  I'aiil, 
A  similar  ctmnt  was  made  by  Mr.  Lucas  and  Mr.  Macouii  August  10  to  21  on  St. 
(Jeorge. 

On  August  10  Professor  Th(mipsoii  and  Dr.  Jordan  left  St.  Paul  Island  in  II,  M,  S. 
Satdlite  for  the  Commander  Islands,  siieuding  August  24  and  25  on  the  rookeries  of 
these  islands  and  returning  to  St,  Piiul  on  September  1,  bringing  with  them  Mr. 
liarrett Hamilton,  another  member  of  the  British  commission. 

Mr.  Towusend  left  St.  I'aul  on  the  company's  steamer  Homer  for  San  Francisco 
August  2.'i.  Colonel  jNIurray  returned  from  St.  George  Sei»teinber  1  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  made  experiments  in  branding  pups  on  Lukanin  rookery.  Messrs,  jjiicas 
and  P.iirrett-Haiuilton  spent  September  2  to  5  at  sea  on  the  h'uHh,  among  the  pelagic 
>eaiers. 


"The  HiiBHiiiu  l-'iir  .Seal  iHlaiiilH,  Stojuo^fr;  Itiill.  V.  S.  MsU  Com.,  18!M>. 


ITINEUAHY. 


21 


On  SoptonilMT  s  Ih.  •lordiiii,  I'rorvssoi- Tlioiiipsoii,  iiii«l  Mr.  Liu'iih  sa*!*'*!  witli  tlio 
li'iixli  lot-  Sitkii  anil  IliciKc  to  ^^ciittlc,  Mt'SHiH.  Clark,  Miummiii,  liairvtt  liaiiiilton,  and 
Colonel  Murray  rt'niainin^' on  St.  I'aiil. 

On  ScpttMhltiM' 1 1  turtht'i' fxporiinuntH  in  hrandiii^f  w(m-«i  ina<lt>.  Tlit-  slarvod  an*l 
.starving  pups  on  St.  Paul  \vim»^  ronntrd  Si'iitiMnbcr  28  to  October  1.  A  Hiniilar  count 
was  nnidcon  St.  <l(jorj{c  OctolM'rH.  On  October  7  .Messrs.  Clark  and  Macoiin  returned 
to  St.  Paul,  Mr.  Ilarrettllaniilton  remained  on  St.  (leor^t'i  and  Colonel  Murray  went 
to  Cnalaska.  On  October  '22  the  reniainin<j:  couiniissionerH  left  tlie  islands  on  tliu 
titar  ami  arrived  in  Pent  Townsend  Novoinber  3. 


ITINERARY,  1897. 

May  2J.— Mr.  Clark  sailed  from  San  Francisco  on  the  North  .\inericaii  Company's 
steamer  /'i7  Xorlr  .May  -'-.  Mr.  Ibistow  Adams  a*M-oiiipanied  him  as  artist  assistant 
to  the  commission.  Col.  Joseph  Murray,  chief  a^ent,  Mr.  .lohn  M.  Mortiui,  assistant 
a^t'iit,  and  Mr.  James  M,  Macoun,  Canadian  commissioner,  were  also  passen(;ers  on 
the  vessel.  The  /><7  Xitrtr  arrived  at  Wood  Island,  Kadiak,  May  .'U,  and  at  Dutch 
Harbor,  Cnalaska,  on  the  morning'  of  June  I. 

June  7. — The  />e/  Xortr  arrived  at  St.  (ieorge  IslamI,  renniinin;;  at  am-hor  «lis 
charfjin^- carj;(»  until  the  evening;  of  the  llth,  duriii};  tvhich  time  all  tli«  rookeries  of 
St. (Jeorfie  were  visited  and  daily  visits  were  nnide  to  N'^orth  rookery,  near  the  villa^ic. 

June  IL*. — On  the  morning  of  June  \2  Mr.  Clark  vas  landed  on  St.  Paid  Island 
and  bejian  ilaily  observation  of  the  breediufj  rookeries. 

.Inly  1. — Mr.  Lucas  arrived  on  the  h'iinli  at  St.  Paul  July  I,  Dr.  Stejne};er,  who 
ai'companietl  him  to  Cnalaska,  liavin^' sailed  direct  from  that  portfor  the  Commander 
Islaiuls  on  board  the  (Iriint. 

.July  7. — Dr.  StejucKer  was  landed  by  the  U>nnt  on  \Wv\\\\*  Island. 

.luly  !•. — Mr.  Lm-as  examined  the  rookeries  of  St.deorjje  Island.  Mr.  Chichester 
accompanied  him  ami  plioto^j^raphed  the  lookcries  for  the  United  States  Fish  Com- 
miss'on. 

July  lli. — The  eountiuK  of  the  cows  was  be^run  on  the  rookeries  of  St.  Paul  and 
the  series  of  photographs  for  the  Cuited  States  Fish  Commission  made. 

July  -'5. — Dr.  .lordan  arrived  at  St.  (ieorge  Island  and,  after  visiting  theroo'.eries 
there,  was  landed  011  St.  Paul  July  l.'8. 

JulyJM). — The  count  of  live  pups  was  begun  on  the  test  rookeries.  Kitovi  was 
counted  by  Messrs.  Clark  and  Macoun  on  August  -.  This  was  followed  by  a  count  of 
dead  pups  on  the  "death  tra|»s"  of  Zapadni  and  Tolstoi. 

August.'*. — Professor  Thompson  arrived  at  St.  Paul  on  It.  M.  S.  h'aiiihoir  from  the 
Commander  Islands. 

August  8. — Mr.  Macoun  left  St.  Paul  on  II.  M.  S.  I'limmnt, 

August  11. — Dr.  .lordan  ami  Mr.  Clark  left  St.  Paid  Island  cm  the  revenue-<!iitter 
A'h«/i,  arriviU;:'  at  Seattle  i,n  the  evening  of  th«^  L'lst. 

August  ir>. — Dr.  Stejneger  was  transferred  from  Mering  Island  to  Copper  Island 
on  the  Russian  cruiser  KoreHx. 

August  16. — Professor  Thompson  left  the  Pribilof  Islands  on  II.  M,  S.  Amitliioii, 

August  18. — Mr.  Lu<;as  left  St.  Paul  on  the  Del  Xortc,  arriving  in  San  Francisco 
August  .'U. 


22 


THK    KUR    SEALS    OF   THE    PRIBILOP    ISLANDS. 


August  31.— Dr.  8tejiieger  returned  to  IJeriiig  Island  by  tiic  Russian  cruiser 
Yakut,  leaving  immediately  for  retropanlski.  where  lie  arrive«l  on  September  4. 

Septembei-  2.— Seals  were  driven  from  Reef,  Lukauin,  and  Middle  Uill  and  retained 
in  the  Lagoon  inclosnrc  until  the  9th. 

September  1).— Beginning  with  this  date  Colonel  Murray,  on  St.  Paul,  and  Mr. 
Judge,  on  St.  Cleorge,  branded  fur-seal  pups. 

September  11.— Mr.  Farmer  and  assistants  in  the  work  of  electrical  branding  h;ffc 
St.  Paul  Island  on  board  the  revenue-cutter  Perry. 

September  L'7.— Dr.  Stejneger  made  a  tiiml  visit  to  Bering  Island  to  investigate 
the  starvation  of  pups,  returning  to  Petropaulski  on  October  20,  sailing  thence  home- 
ward by  way  of  Japan. 

October  ir>. — Colonel  Murray  made  a  final  counting  of  starved  i)ups  on  Lukanin 
and  Kitovi  rookeries  of  St.  Paul  Island. 

A  I'lore  minute  daily  record  of  investigations  will  be  found  in  connection  with  the 
journal  of  daily  observations  kept  by  the  commission,  and  wiiicli  appears  in  full 
elsewhere  in  this  report. 


< 


CHAPTER   TI. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 

DISCOVERY  AND  EXPLORATION. 

The  early  discoveries  and  exploratious  in  and  about  the  waters  of  Bering  Sea 
followed  as  a  result  of  tlie  occupation  of  the  eastern  coast  of  Siberia  by  tbe  Russians 
in  tlie  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The  organized  ettorts  to  explore  the 
unknown  seas  beyond  were  begun  in  the  reign  of  I'eter  the  (Jreat  and  were  roiupleted 
after  his  death  by  Lis  successor,  the  Knipress  Catherine. 

The  first  impo-.-tant  expedition  sailed  in  two  vessels  from  Kamchatka  in  17li8  uiuler 
charge  of  Vitus  Bering.  One  vessel  discfovered  St.  Lawrence  Island  and  sailed  tiirough 
the  straits  to  the  north;  the  other  reached  the  continent  of  North  America  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Hiver  Yukon. 

BERING'S  SECOND  VOYAGE. 

Thirteen  years  afterwards  Bering  ^\!t  out  with  a  second  expedition  which  reached 
America  at  Kayak  Island,  in  the  vicis.ity  of  Mount  St.  Klias.  I'pon  the  homeward 
voyage  the  Commander  Islands  were  discovered,  and  the  ship  on  which  Bering  sailed 
was  wrecked  on  the  island  now  called  Bering.  Here  Bering  died,  and,  after  winterinf, 
such  of  the  crew  as  survived  made  their  way  to  Kamchatka  in  the  spring  under  the 
direction  of  the  famous  naturalist,  Georg  Wilhelm  Steller. 

DISCOVERY  OF  COMMANDER  AND  PRIBILOF  ISLANDS. 

This  second  voyage  in  1741,  making  known  the  valuable  fur  resources  of  the 
Oommauder  Islaiuls,  stimulated  the  fur  trade  and  led  to  many  expeditions  among 
the  islands  of  the  Aleutian  ciiain  in  search  of  other  regions  inhabited  by  fur  seals. 
During  these  voyages  the  herd  of  seals  now  known  to  resort  to  the  Pribilof  Islands 
were  encountered  on  their  migrations  through  the  i)as8es  of  the  Aleutian  Islands, 
and  eflbrta  were  made  to  ascertain  the  shore  to  which  they  belonged.  They  were 
followed  to  the  northward  and  to  the  southward  for  this  purpo.se,  but  without  result 
until,  in  r'.S<i,  Gerassim  Pribilof,  a  navigator  in  the  emplo"  of  one  of  the  Kussian 
trading  coni|)anies,  finally  succeeded  in  finding  the  group  of  islands  which  now  bear 
his  luime  and  are  the  home  of  the  American  fur  seals.  The  island  of  St.  (Jeorge,  so 
C'dled  from  tli;;  name  of  his  vessel,  was  the  first  land  found.  In  the  following  year 
St.  Paul  Island  was  discovered. 

THE  RUSSIAN-AMERICAN  COMPANY. 

Immediately  upon  the  discovery  of  the  Commander  Islands  in  1741,  and  later  upon 
the  discovery  of  the  Pribilof  Islands  in  178r>,  numerous  trading  companies  began  to 
develop  their  lucrative  fur  resources.  The  rivalry  and  competition  which  naturally 
arose  nearly  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  the  fur-seal  herds.  To  prevent  this,  the 
entire  fur  trade  of  the  Russian  colonies  passed  into  the  control  of  a  single  powerful 

23 


24 


THE    FUR    SEALS    OF    THE    PRIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


organization,  t\w  Uiiasian-Aiiiericaii  Company.  This  coin])iiiiy  Wiis  created  in  the  year 
17!H),  by  (le(!ree  of  the  Imperial  (joveriiiiient,  and  was  veste<l  for  a  period  of  twenty 
years  with  exchisivc  i>rivileffes  to  trade  along  the  shores  of  northwestern  America, 
between  latitude  rt'P  north  and  Bering  Strait,  ou  the  Aleutian  and  Kuril  Islands,  and 
tiie  islands  of  the  Northeastern  or  Heriug  Sea. 

ITS  ORGANIZATION. 

The  coini)any'8  chief  place  of  business  was  originally  at  Irkutsk,  but  was  after- 
wai'.ls  transferred  to  St.  Petersburg.  Its  shareholders,  exclusively  Hussians,  numbered 
members  of  the  Imperial  family  and  the  high  i!obility.  For  purposes  of  administration 
the  Imperial  (iovernment  and  the  directors  of  the  company  jointly  appointed  a  (thief 
manager,  who  resided  at  Sitka,  in  Alaska,  then  called  New  Archangel.  The  powers 
of  this  numager  were  absolute  within  the  territory  over  which  the  company  exeicised 
jurisdiction.  Under  him  were  submanagers,  overseers,  and  other  agents,  h'eports 
of  the  (company's  affairs  were  required  to  be  submitted  to  the  Imperial  Government. 
Under  its  charter  the  Kussian-American  Company  paid  wo  royalty  or  rental  to  the 
(Iovernment,  but  as  its  trade  consisted  chieHy  in  the  exchange  of  furs  for  teas  on  the 
Chinese  frontier,  the  (Iovernment  received  indirectly  large  sums  through  the  resulting 
duties. 

THE  UKASE  OF  1821. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1821,  the  Emperor  Alexander  I  issued  an  edict  known 
as  the  ukase  of  1821,  which  provided  for  a  set  of  rules  and  regulations  controlling  the 
boundaiies  of  navigation  and  trade  on  the  coasts  and  waters  over  which  the  Itussian- 
American  Company  exercised  jurisdiction.  These  regulations  provided  for  the 
prohibition  of  all  foreign  vessels  from  landing  on  or  approaching  within  100  Italian 
miles  of  the  coasts  and  islands  belonging  to  Russia.*  Shortly  after  the  issuance  of  this 
decree  the  Emperor  renewed  for  an  additional  term  of  twenty  years  the  charter  of 
riglits  and  privileges  of  the  Russian  American  Company. 

The  ukase  of  1821  involved  Russia  in  a  controversy,  on  the  one  hand  with  the 
United  States  and  on  the  other  hand  with  Great  Britain,  which  resulted  in  the  treaties 
ot  1824  and  1825,  the  former  between  the  United  States  and  Russia  aud  the  latter 
between  Great  Britain  and  Russia.  These  treaties  left  undisturbed  the  right  of  stiict 
control  claimed  by  Russia  "over  all  interior  waters  and  over  all  waters  inclosed  by 
Russian  territory,  such  !'3  the  Sea  of  Okhotsk,  Bering  Sea  or  the  Sea  of  Kamchatka, 
as  well  as  all  gulfs,  bays,  and  estuaries."! 

THE  SECOND  AND  THIRD  CHARTERS. 

The  second  charter  of  the  Russian-American  Company  was  revised  in  182(t  to 
conform  to  the  treaties  of  1824-2")  and  its  provisions  recontiriiu'd.  In  1842  it  was 
again  renewed  for  a  period  of  twenty  years,  with  all  its  exclusive  franchises  and 
privdeges.  This  third  charter  expired  in  18G2  aud  was  not  renewed.  The  con)pany, 
lu  .ever,  continued  to  operate  under  it,  pending  a  decision  of  the  (juestion  of  reiunval. 
lUit  before  a  decision  was  reached  the  territory  of  Alaska  was  transferred  to  the 
United  States  by  the  treaty  of  1867. 


*  Ai)]U'ii(lix  to  oftsn  of  I'.  8.,  Fur  Seal  Arb.,  j).  l(i  (V. 

t  AppeuiUx  to  eiwe  of  l'.  S.,  Fur  Sual  Arb.,  Letter  No.  10,  p.  03. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    VVU   SHAL    ISLANDS. 


25 


THE  COMPANY'S  MANAGEMENT. 

.\t  once  upon  assuiniiig  foutrol  of  the  Lslaiids  the  Kiissiaii  AiMcricaii  Coiiuiaiiy 
put  a  .stop  to  tiic  ruthless  shiughter  whicli  tlireatened  tlie  fur  seal  herds  witli  destruc- 
tion. Tliey,  however,  attempted  to  liuiit  the  extent  ratlier  tliaii  to  reform  the  charac- 
ter of  the  shiughter.  They  still  continued  to  kill  males  and  females  alike.  The  injury 
to  the  herd  naturally  continued,  and  in  lSO(i  and  1807  ir  was  found  uecressary  to 
suspend  killing  in  order  to  give  the  herd  an  opportunity  to  recuperate.  In  18(»H  killing 
was  resumed,  but  still  without  proper  regard  for  the  conditions  of  seal  life.* 

INJURIOUS  METHODS. 

(Iradually,  however,  the  habits  and  interests  of  the  herd  began  to  be  better  known 
and  cared  for.  In  IS'M,  Vanovskj',  an  agent  of  the  Im])erial  (Jovernment,  after  an 
insi)ection  of  the  fur  seal  rookeries,  called  attention  to  the  practice  of  killing  the 
young  animals,  leaving  <mly  the  adults  as  breeders.  lie  writes:  "If  any  of  the  yonng 
breeders  are  not  killed  by  the  autumn  they  are  sure  to  be  killed  in  the  foHowing 
spring."t  From  this  course  of  action  he  concludes  that  the  industry  dciTcases  every 
year  in  volume,  and  may  in  the  course  of  time  be  extinguished  entirely.  Probably  as 
a  result  of  this,  in  182li,  as  V'eniaminof  tells  us,  provision  was  made  for  the  reservation 
of  young  seals  for  breeding  puri)o.ses.  This  provision  was  hardly  suflicient,  however, 
to  accomplish  the  desired  end  so  long  as  females  of  any  age  were  killed.  As  a  natural 
result,  another  crisis  in  the  history  of  the  herd  was  reached  in  18^U,  Hut  it  is  not  clear 
whether  this  was  due  entirely  to  indiscriminate  slaughter  or  to  the  combimition  of 
this  with  disaster  resulting  from  the  continuance  of  the  ice  tloes  about  the  islands  far 
into  the  summer,  preventing  the  cows  from  landing  to  give  birth  to  their  young  and 
grinding  them  to  pieces  in  the  ice  itself.  This  latter  possibility  exists  as  a  tradition 
among  the  AK^uts,  though  in  their  minds  it  may  have  been  confused  with  a  subse- 
<iuent  catastrophe  of  a  similar  character  recorded  by  the  manager  of  8t.  Paul  Island 
in  18.59.1  In  any  event,  it  seems  very  clearly  established  that  in  the  year  I8.'}4  the 
herd  was  in  a  most  precarious  condition.  The  natives  ■^.ere  not  even  allowed  to  take 
seals  for  food,  and  for  a  time  all  killing  was  suspended. 


PROTECTION  OF  THE  FEMALES. 

At  this  time  it  seems  to  have  become  fully  understood  that  if  the  herd  was  to 
continue  its  feuuiles  njust  be  protected.^  Accordingly  from  this  time  on  the  taking  of 
seals  was  limited  strictly  to  the  males.  But  the  managers  of  the  fur-seal  herds  had 
still  .something  to  learn.  The  retpiirements  of  the  Chinese  market  weie  the  only  guide 
to  the  class  of  skins  desired,  and  as  all  sizes  were  taken  the  killing  of  nudes  included  all 
ages  from  old  bulls  down  to  the  gray  i)ups.  Gradually  this  wasteful  killing  stopped. 
The  bulls  were  no  longer  taken  aud  the  killing  of  gray  pups  was  limited  to  sH«;h  as 
were  needed  for  food  and  oil.  II 


'Veniaiiiiiiof,  Trans.  Elliott,  Mouojfrapb,  Fur  Seal  Isds.,  1881,  p.  110. 
t  Appuiidix  to  ciiae  of  U.  S.,  Fur  .Sfiil  Arb.,  Letter  No.  6,  )>.  .''•S. 

t  A|>|U!ii(lix  to  case  of  IT.  S.,  Fur  Seal  Arb.,  Letter  No.  2U,  p.  87.    The  dire  reHiilts  here  predicted 
seem  not  i,«;  !<iivo  been  felt  by  the  herd. 

*  Aj)peiidix  to  eBNt>  of  U.  8.,  Fur  Seal  Arb.,  Letter  No.  23,  p.  82. 
II  Appendix  to  ease  of  U.  S.,  Fur  Senl  Arb.,  Litter  No.  21,  p.  82. 


26 


THE    PUR   SEALS  OF   THE   PRIBILOP   ISLANDS. 
THE  HERD  AT  THE  CLOSE  OF  RUSSIAN  CONTROL. 


Under  tliese  {fnulually  perfected  inethod.s  of  operation  the  lierd  seems  to  have 
prospered  and  increased  so  that  in  the  year  1804,  as  we  learn  from  the  instructions* 
to  the  agents  of  the  Itussian  American  Company  on  the  ishinds  it  was  considered 
possible  to  take  annually  70,000  seals  on  St.  Paul  Island  alone.  The  number  for 
St.  George  Island  is  not  given.  This  in  brief  is  the  condition  of  the  fur-seal  herd  as  it 
came  into  the  possessioiUof  the  United  States.  In  definite  facts  and  data  there  is  but 
little;  but  it  may  be  taken  for  granted  in  the  light  of  subsequent  events  that  the  herd 
was  in  a  condition  of  normal  increase, 

THE   INTERREGNUM. 

The  year  18(38,  or  the  season  following  the  transfer  of  Alaska  from  Russian  to 
American  control,  is  generally  known  as  the  "interregnun>."  It  was  impossible 
immediately  to  provide  an  administrative  system  for  the  Territory,  and  a  period  of 
lawlessness  reigned  on  the  islands.  The  state  of  affairs  is  thus  described  by  Prof. 
William  H.  I)all,t  who  visited  the  islands  <luring  tlie  year: 

PROFESSOR   DALL'S   NOTES. 

Durinj;  my  visit  to  St.  (ieorijo  Islnud  in  1868,  thin  vast  territory  of  Alaska  had  Just  fallen  into 
the  iiossessioii  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Cioverninent  had  not  yet  fairly  established  more  than  a 
l(efj;iuuin;j  of  an  orijanization  for  its  management  as  a  whole,  without  mentioning  such  details  as  the 
I'ribilof  Islands.  In  consciinence  of  this  state  of  att'airs  private  enterprise,  in  the  form  of  companies 
dealing  in  furs,  had  established  numerous  sealing  stations  on  the  islands.  During  my  stay,  except  on 
a  single  occasion,  the  driving  from  the  hauling  grounds,  the  killing,  and  skinning  was  done  by  the 
natives  in  the  same  manner  as  wlien  under  the  Russian  rule,  each  competing  party  i>aying  them  so 
mucli  per  skin  for  their  labor  in  taking  them.  Despite  the  very  bitter  and  more  or  less  uuscrupnlons 
competition  among  the  various  parties,  all  recognized  the  importance  of  preserving  the  industry  and 
protecting  the  breeding  grounds  from  molestation,  and  for  the  most  part  were  guided  by  this 
conviction. 

THE   NUMBER   OF   SEALS   KILLED. 

During  this  year  a  very  great  number  of  seals  were  killed  on  the  islands.  Estimates 
vary,  but  it  is  evident  that  the  number  amounted  to  not  far  from  300,000.  As  this 
subject  has  been  freciuently  referred  to  and  strenuous  ettbrts  made  to  connect  the 
heavy  killing  of  this  year  with  the  subsequent  decline  of  the  herd,  we  feel  Justified 
in  (juoting  here  at  length  the  statement  of  Mr.  Osborne  Howes,  now  editor  of  the 
Boston  Uerald,  who  spent  the  summer  of  1808  on  St.  (leorge  Island  as  agent  of  one 
of  the  companies.    He  says: 

MR.  HOWESS  NOTES. 

I  left  Sun  Francisco  early  in  March  on  board  a  schooner  cleared  by  Messrs.  Parrott  &  Co.,  of 
that  city,  for  a  trading  voyage  in  Muring  Sea  and  the  coast  of  Kamchatka.  Our  schooner  put  into 
Hitka  on  the  way  up  and  took  on  board  a  number  of  natives,  sailing  from  Sitka  to  the  Sliumagiu 
Islands  and  thence  into  Hering  Sea.  It  was  the  first  vessel  to  reach  the  island,  arriving  at  St.  Oeorge 
in  the  latter  part  of  April.  I  was  landed  with  the  goods,  and  the  schooner  continued  her  voyage 
toward  the  coast  of  Kamchatka.  I  immediately  secured  possession  of  the  salt  house  and  the  services 
of  the  natives  for  the  season. 


•Appendix  to  case  of  U.  8.,  Fur  Seal  Arb.,  Letter  No.  ,31,  p.  89. 
t  Fur  Seal  Arb.,  vol.  2,  p.  132. 


METHODS   OF   TAKING   FUR   SEALS. 


27 


i 


THE   TRADING   COMPANIES 

In  a  few  days  a  schooner  ropreHcntin>i  tlie  firm  of  Hutchinson,  Kohl  &  Co.  also  landed  repre- 
sontativi's  on  St.  Goorj^o  Island.  Not  lou;;  after  tlir  arrival  of  this  second  schooner  a  third,  in  the 
interest  of  the  firm  of  Williams  &  Haven,  landed  men  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  island,  at  /.apadni 
rookery.  This  lirm  had  headi|Uarters  on  St.  I'aul  Island.  It  was  inipossilde  for  these  separate 
interests  to  carry  on  their  operations  independently,  and  tliey  therefore  placed  their  bnsiness  nnder 
my  charge.  Drives  wore  inude  alternately  for  the  different  companies  and  the  natives  employed 
in  turn. 

Hefore  the  season  was  well  under  way  a  fourth  expedition  was  landed  on  the  south  side  of  the 
island  across  the  point  from  Kast  rookery.  There  were  three  men  in  the  party,  and  they  sot  aliout 
killing  the  seals  on  the  rookery  without  driving  them.  The  natives  objected  to  this  because  it  inv(dve(l 
the  killing  of  females.  The  men  were  remonstrated  with,  but -were  obdurate.  One  was  brilied  olf  l)y 
the  promise  of  double  wages,  but  the  other  two  continued  their  work.  They  wore  linally  taken 
prisoners  and  sent  otf  to  Sitka  by  the  lirst  schooner  that  touched  at  the  island.  With  them  were 
returned  the  men  brought  from  Sitka,  who  were  found  to  be  unsuited  for  the  work.  When  the 
cajitain  of  tlu'  schooner  whose  men  wore  interfered  >.ith  arrived  in  the  fall  for  his  cargo  of  skins  he 
was  pacified  by  being  allowed  to  take  the  results  of  one  big  drive  made  by  the  natives  for  his  bouefit- 

THE  WORK  OF  SEALING. 

Tho  work  of  sealing  was  carried  out  by  the  natives  under  the  direction  of  their  chief.  Repre- 
sentatives of  tho  different  companies  did  not  c<mcern  themselves  with  the  work  of  driving  or  killing. 
They  simply  jiaid  the  natives  so  much  per  skin — 30  to  35  cents — payment  being  made  in  trade  goods. 
The  natives  evidently  followed  the  traditions  of  earlier  days  in  their  work.  They  seemed  very  jealous 
and  careful  of  tho  seals,  avoiding  any  disturbance  of  the  breeding  grounds.  Their  objec'tion  to  the 
methods  of  killing  on  East  rookery  was  based  upon  the  ground  that  if  the  females  were  killed  there 
w<mld  be  no  seals  in  tho  years  to  come.  It  is  my  belief  that  not  a  single  female  wax  killed  on  St. 
George  Island  during  the  season,  except  by  the  three  men  above  mentioned.  Occasionally  a  female 
was  included  in  the  drive,  but  it  was  quickly  detected  by  tho  natives  and  released. 

Most  of  tho  seals  killed  were  taken  from  North  rookery  and  Zapadni.  No  drives  were  made  from 
Staraya  Artel.  Only  occasional  drives  wore  made  from  East  rookery.  All  the  animals  were  killed  on 
the  ground  below  the  village. 

METHODS  OF  DRIVING. 

The  method  of  driving  was  to  gather  up  the  pods  of  bachelors  from  the  dift'erent  hauling  grounds 
and  drive  them  back  from  the  rookeries,  dividing  them  into  pods  of  150  to  250,  and  bringing  them 
thus  into  the  village.  As  tho  pods  were  being  formed  and  driven  in,  tho  small  and  large  soiils 
unsuited  for  killing  were  worked  out  and  released.  Each  man  knocked  down  his  own  allowance  of 
seals  and  skinned  them  afterwards.  Sixty  was  considered  the  usual  day's  work  for  a  man.  Practi- 
cally all  the  seals  driven  up  were  killed.  Not  more  than  one  seal  in  ten  was  reiecte<l.  The  rule  of  tho 
companies  was  that  skins  too  small,  too  large,  or  cut  would  not  be  aecei)led  or  paid  for.  The 
sealers  were  therefore  very  careful  in  the  work.  A  day's  killing  averaged  from  800  to  1,8(K).  There 
wore  about  thirty  available  men  among  the  natives. 

Of  the  conditions  on  St.  Paul  I  hoard  only  indirectly  through  the  representatives  of  Williams 
&  Haven,  who  in  their  work  were  evidently  directed  by  instructions  from  the  head  station  on  St. 
Paul,  where  the  same  methods  were  probably  employed.  The  Williams  A  Haven  and  Hutchinson, 
Kohl  &  Co.'s  interests  were  supreme  on  St.  Paul  Island,  and  they  divided  the  rookeries  between  them. 

To  the  best  of  my  recidlection  115,(XX)  were  taken  on  St.  George  and  250,000  on  St.  Paul  during 
the  season.  Prior  to  this  season  it  was  understood  that  for  several  years  no  seals  had  been  killed.  In 
186it  no  skins  were  taken,  except  a  few  from  seals  killed  for  Ibod  for  the  natives.  The  privilege  of 
taking  these  skins  was  given  to  Hutchinson,  Kohl  &.  Co.,  who.  owning  the  principal  salt  bouses  and 
stores  on  tho  islands,  wore  allowed  to  visit  them  to  care  for  their  property.  Parrolt  &  Co.  sent  a 
schooner  to  St.  George  to  take  off  the  skins  which  had  been  loft  over,  but  they  took  no  new  skins. 

RUSSIAN  METHODS. 

The  testimony  of  Mr.  Howes,  corroborating  tbe  evidence  of  Professor  Dall,  is 
valuable  for  a  doable  purpose.     It  gives  us  an  idea  of  the  ilnal  metliods  of  handling 


2S 


THK    FUR    SKALS    Ol'    TIIK    PRIIULOF    ISLANDS. 


tlie  seals  wliicli  tlio  Itiissiiiiis  liad  evolved.  It  is  evident  tiiat  in  these  operations  of 
liS(i8  tlie  natives  were  eanying  out  rules  and  metliuds  which  had  become  traditional 
with  them.  One  of  these  rules,  as  we  learn  from  instructions  to  the  olUcer  in  tdiarjic 
of  th«'  islands  in  the  year  18"),'],  was  the  strict  protection  of  females.* 

THE  KILLING  NOT  INDISCRIMINATE. 

We  are  alsojustilled  in  assuming'  that  the  killing  as  jnacticed  in  ISfiS  did  not  in 
any  way  injure  the  herd,  being  confined  as  heretofore  to  the  killing  of  the  bachelors. 
That  so  large  a  number  were  killed  is  in  part  accounted  for  by  reduction  in  killing 
in  the  years  immediately  prior  to  the  transfer  of  the  islands  to  the  United  States.  A 
surplus  of  the  larger  animals  thus  saved  remained  to  be  gathered  in.  It  is  further 
evident  that  the  killing  extended  down  to  the  younger  seals,  doubtless  including  all 
or  most  of  the  two-year-olds.  This  latter  fact  is  given  support  by  the  absence  of  any 
regulai'  killing  for  tlie  year  18C9  and  the  small  (piota  of  li.'J,000  only  which  was  taken 
in  1870.  We  are  not  aware  that  the  usual  number  of  seals  could  not  have  been 
obtained  in  these  years,  but  it  may  well  have  been  that  the  (juota  for  18(5!>  and  1870 
had  been  anticipated  to  large  extent  in  the  year  1808.  This  mucili,  however,  remains 
certain,  that  the  absence  of  large  killings  in  1809  and  1870  removed  any  jjossible 
injury  which  might  have  resulted  to  the  herd  from  the  too  close  killing  of  bachelors  in 
1808,  and  the  fact  that  for  fifteen  years  subsequent  to  1870,  100,000  and  more  males 
were  to  be  obtained  on  the  hauling  grounds  of  the  islands  shows  conclusively  that  not 
only  were  the  breeding  females  not  disturbed  in  1808,  but  furthermore  that  the  supply 
of  male  life  was  not  so  reduced  as  in  any  way  to  affect  the  life  of  the  herd. 

AMERICAN  MANAGEMENT. 

In  the  spring  of  1809  Dr.  II.  11.  Mclntyre,  the  representai  /e  of  the  United  States 
(lovernnient,  landed  upon  the  island,  establishing  the  authority  of  the  Governnjent, 
and  taking  the  necessary  steps  lor  the  protection  of  the  rookeries. 

The  period  of  lawlessness  which  marked  the  season  of  1808  was  thus  terminated 
in  1809  by  Dr.  Afclntyre.  He  was  aitpointcd  in  1808  and  endeavored  to  reach  his 
destination  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  but  on  account  of  the  lateness  of  the  season  he 
was  forced  to  winter  at  Sitka. 

THE  ALASKA  COMMERCIAL  COMPANY. 

In  the  meantime  the  (rovernment  had  under  consideration  the  most  advantageous 
method  of  managing  its  fur  seal  industry.  After  a  thorough  consideration  of  all 
recommendations  and  suggestions  bearing  upon  the  matter,  it  was  decided  to  lease 
the  islands  to  a  single  reliable  company  under  the  immediate  supervision  and  control 
of  agents  of  the  Treasury  I)e})artnient,  duly  commissioned  for  that  purpose.  In 
accordance  with  this  decision  in  July,  1870,  Congress  passed  an  act  authorizing  this 
course  of  procedure,  and  immediately  afterwards  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
advertised  for  bids  for  the  lease  of  the  seal  fisheries  for  a  period  of  twenty  years. 

Of  the  numerous  offers  received  from  various  companies  and  associations,  that  of 
the  Alaska  Commercial  Company,  with  a  capital  of  $2,000,000,  was  accejited  as  the 
one  most  likely  to  promote  the  "interests  of  the  Government,  the  native  inhabitants, 
the  parties  heretofore  engaged  in  the  trade,  and  the  protection  of  the  seal  llsheries." 


Appemli.K  t(i  Case  of  U.  S.,  Fur  Seal  Arb.,  Letter  \o.  23,  p.  82. 


LEASES    OK   THE    FUIt   SEAL   ISLANDS. 


21) 


THE  FIRST  LEASE. 

Under  llie  terms  of  tlii.s  lease  tlie  compiuiy  were  f-iveii  tlie  riglit  to  take  1(K),(HM) 
male  seals  over  «me  year  of  age  duriiiff  tlie  months  (»f  June,  .luly,  September,  and 
October  of  each  year.  In  1874,  by  act  of  Congress,  the  number  of  seals  to  be  taken 
and  the  time  of  sealinj;'  was  made  subje(;t  to  the  control  of  ollicers  of  the  Treasnry 
l)ei)artment,  and  killing  after  August  1  was  linuted  to  the  necessities  of  the  food  supply 
of  the  natives.  The  use  of  tirearnis  or  of  other  methods  of  killing,  tending  to  diive 
the  seals  away,  was  prohibited,  as  was  also  the  killing  of  the  aninuilK  in  the  water. 

In  (ionsideration  for  the  skins  so  taken  the  lessees  agreed  to  pay  to  the  Treasury 
of  the  United  States  an  annual  rental  of  $")5,()00  lor  the  islands,  and  a  revenue  tax  of 
$2.G2jl  on  each  skin  taken  and  shii)ped  by  them.  In  addition  they  were  to  furnish 
free  of  charge  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  islands  each  year  '2'»,(H){)  dried  salmon,  60  cords 
of  lirewood,  and  a  snilicient  quantity  of  salt  and  preserved  uu'ats.  The  company  was 
also  to  nniintaiu  a  school  on  each  island  for  at  least  eight  months  of  the  year,  and 
were  forbidden  to  sell  any  distilled  sjiirits  or  si)irituous  ]i(|uor8. 

THE  NORTH  AMERICAN    COMMERCIAL  COMPANY. 

Under  the  provisions  of  this  lease  the  alfairs  of  the  islands  were  ionduijted  until 
the  close  of  the  season  of  l.SS'.t,  when  it  exi)ircd.  The  Treasury  Department  again 
advertised  for  bids  and  again  leased  the  islands  for  a  term  of  twenty  years  to  a  new 
company,  the  North  American  Commercial  Company,  their  ottV-r  having  been  accepted 
as  most  advantageous  to  the  (lovernment. 


, 


THE  PRESENT  LEASE. 

The  new  lease  differs  from  the  old  to  the  advantage  of  the  Covernment  in  Iho 
following  points:  Tlie  rental  of  the  islands  is  tixed  at  *()(>,0U0.  The  tax  of  each  skin 
is  .'!*9.()2A.  Eighty  tons  of  coal  are  furni.shed  the  natives.  The  (piantity  of  salmon, 
salt,  sind  other  provisions  to  be  furnished  can  be  tixed  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury.  The  company  furnishes  free  dwellings,  churches,  physicians,  niedicMiies, 
employnuMit  to  the  natives,  and  cares  for  the  aged,  the  widows,  and  the  orjthans. 
The  quota  was  (ixed  at  «i(),<K)0  for  the  first  year,  and  has  since  been  subject  to  the 
regulation  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 

THE  DECLINE  IN  THE  BACHELOR  HERD. 

During  the  closing  years  of  the  lease  of  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company  a 
market.'  decrease  in  the  fur  seal  herd  had  begun  to  be  noted.  In  the  opening  year  of 
the  new  com[»auy*s  lea.se  the  depleted  (iondition  of  the  herd  became  upparent  in  the 
reduction  to  onetifth  in  the  original  ((uota  of  1(K),()0()  skins.  N'arious  fa(!tors  entered 
into  this  decline,  which  it  is  not  necessary  here  to  discuss  fully.  These,  as  well 
as  the  original  cause  of  decrease  in  the  herd,  were  at  best  but  imperfectly  understood 
at  the  time. 

LAND  AND  SEA  KILLING. 

To  make  the  matter  clear  in  the  briefest  possible  space,  at  this  point  it  is  nei-essaiy 
to  review  .somewhat  the  history  of  the  herd.  Conjointly  with  the  killing  on  land,  as 
practiced  by  the  Russians  and  Americans,  there  had  been  going  on  from  time  imme 
oumal  killing  of  another  sort  now  known  as  pelagic  sealing.    This  was  carried  on  at 


30 


THE    Fl.'U    SEAr.S    OF    TIIH    I'KIIIILOF    ISLANDS. 


tirnt  hy  the  IiuliaiiH  otV  the  Northwest  Coast,  goiiiK  out  in  their  canoes  to  capture  tlie 
seals  in  the  course  of  tlieir  winter  ini|;ration.  The  number  of  animals  so  taken  was 
at  tlrst  merely  nominal,  and  it  was  not  until  about  the  year  1>S7!),  when  schooners  were 
first  introduced  to  trans|>ort  the  canoes  to  tln'ir  held  of  operations  and  care  for  them 
there,  that  the  industry  hej^ao  to  make  itself  felt  on  the  herd.  The  rise  of  pelagic 
sealing  theieafter  was  rapid,  and  in  1880  it  was  extended  into  Bering  Sea.  From 
this  time  on  the  killing  at  sea  steadily  increased,  and  as  the  bulk  of  the  catch  was 
composed  <tf  fcnniles  tiie  oi)erations  of  ])clagic  sealing  necessarily  i)roduced  an 
injurious  effect  on  the  herd,  which  disclosed  itself  tirst  in  the  diminished  product  of  the 
hauling  grounds  already  noted. 

THE  EXTENSION  OP  SEALING  TO  BERING  SEA 

At  the  tirst  (Mitry  of  sealing  vessels  into  Jiering  Sea  the  I'uited  States  acted  on 
the  precedent  established  by  Russia  in  the  I'kascof  1821,  seized  a  number  of  the 
sealing  vessels  and  conliscated  them.  I'elagic  sealing  being  largely  a  Canadian 
industry,  this  action  at  once  started  a  controversy  with  Grea<^  Britain  which  extended 
over  the  iieriod  from  1880  to  1890.  Meantime  the  injurious  effect  of  the  slaughter  (»f 
large  numbers  of  females  was  more  and  more  evident  in  the  herd,  until  in  181)0  it  became 
alarming,  the  number  of  killable  seals  having  decreased  to  one-fifth  the  usual  number. 

From  tlie  discussion  of  the  seizures  of  Canadian  vessels  and  the  efforts  of  the 
Tnited  States  to  secure  protection  to  its  fur-seal  herd,  resulted  a  treaty,  in  the  spring 
of  1802,  remanding  the  whole  matter  to  the  consideration  of  a  tiibunal  of  arbitration 
which  should  pass  upon  the  legal  questions  inv<»lved,  and  if  need  be  provide  such 
measures  as  were  necessary  for  the  proper  protection  and  preservation  of  the  herd. 
As  a  basis  for  such  action,  provision  was  made  for  a  thorough  investigation  of  the 
condition  of  the  herd  by  a  Joint  commission  of  experts. 

THE  TRIBUNAL  OF  ARBITRATION. 

This  Tribunal  of  Arbitration  met  at  Paris  in  the  summer  of  1803,  and  as  a  result 
of  its  labors  a  set  of  regulations  was  formulated,  the  essential  features  of  which 
were  the  establishment  of  a  closed  zone  of  00  miles  in  Bering  Sea  about  the  islands 
and  a  closed  season,  from  May  1  to  August  1,  within  which  all  sealing  was  i)rohibited. 


THE  REGULATIONS. 

During  the  pendency  of  the  deliberations  of  the  Tribunal,  pelagic  sealing  was  in 
part  suspended.  The  season  of  189-t  witnessed  the  first  operations  of  the  regulations, 
and  the  resumption  of  pelagic  sealing  under  them  showed  an  increased  catch  over  the 
unrestricted  killing  of  1891.  The  United  States  became  convinced  at  the  close  of  the 
first  season  that  the  regulations  were  inadequate.  A  protest  was  entered  and  Great 
Britain  was  asked  to  consider  their  immediate  revision.  At  the  close  of  each  subse- 
(|uent  season  this  protest  and  request  were  again  renewed.  Failing  to  obtain  such 
reconsideration  the  United  States  early  in  1890  accepted  the  ])roposal  of  Great 
Britain  to  prepare  for  a  reexamination  of  the  regulations  at  the  end  of  the  five-year 
trial  period,  by  subjecting  the  whole  question  to  independent  scientific  investigation 
on  the  part  of  the  two  Governments.  The  i)resent  report  is  the  outcome  of  this 
investigation  so  far  as  the  United  States  is  concerned. 


h 
a 
o 

Ci 


CII  A  I'TKK   I  I  I. 

THE  HOME  OF  THE  FUR  SEALS. 

A.  THE  PRIBILOF  ISLANDS. 
TIIKIR  OEOUUAIMIY. 

The.  little  yroup  of  rouky  islets  known  as  the  Pribilof  Islands,  from  the  name  of 
their  discoverer,  is  situated  in  the  I'>ering  Sea,  in  latitude  57"^  north  and  lonj^itude 
170'^  west.  They  are  isolated  from  other  land,  the  nearest  point  to  the  south  beinji 
Unalaska  Island,  at  a  distance  of  214  miles.  Capo  Newenham,  on  the  mainland  of 
Alaska,  at  a  distance  of  30!>  miles,  is  the  nearest  point  to  the  eastward,  while  8t. 
Matthew  Island,  -'20  miles  away,  is  the  first  land  to  the  northward. 

The  islands  are  of  volcanic  origin,  and  are  live  in  numbei' — St.  Paul,  St.  George, 
Otter,  Walrus,  an<l  Sivutch  Hock.  The  first  two  only  are  of  importan(;e.  The  last 
three  are  small  islets  lyin^'  about  St.  Paul  Islaml  and  within  about  7  miles  of  its 
shores.    The  main  islands  are  separated  by  about  40  statute  miles  of  water. 

ST.   I'AUL   ISLAND. 

St.  Paul,  the  larj^est  island,  lies  in  latitude  57°  07'  north  and  longitude  170'^  17' 
west.*  It  has  an  extreme  length  from  northeast  to  southwest  <»f  1,'iA  miles.  Its 
maximum  width  is  7i|  miles.  It  has  a  shore  line  of  about  4r>i  miles  and  an  area 
of  4.'J  s(|uare  miles.  The  surface  of  the  island  is  in  the  main  low.  Itocky  plateaus 
alternate  with  low  valleys,  son>e  of  which  contain  ])ouds  of  fresh  water.  One  of 
these  covers  a  space  upward  of  2  miles  in  length  by  half  a  mile  in  width,  but  is  very 
shallow.  It  is  shut  in  by  sand  duues,  and  lies  along  the  narrow  neck  which  Joins 
the  rocky  headland  called  Northeast  Point  with  the  main  body  of  the  island.  In  the 
southeast  end  of  the  island  is  a  salt-water  lagoon,  covering  some  100  acres  in  extent, 
and  connected  with  the  sea  by  a  narrow  channel  some  75  to  100  feet  in  width.  The 
average  elevation  of  the  upland  areas  is  not  more  than  150  feet,  but  a  number  of  cinder 
cones  and  volcanic  craters  rise  to  varying  heights  in  the  interior  portion  of  the  island. 
Bogoslof  attains*  an  elevation  of  590  feet,  but  Rush  Hill  on  the  west  shore  is  the 
highest,  005  feet.  A  number  of  shallow  bays  indent  the  coast  line,  bordered  by  long 
stretches  of  sandy  beach,  behind  which  are  areas  of  shifting  sand  dunes;  but  for  the 
most  part  the  shores  are  bowlder-strewn  and  rugged,  rising  in  sheer  clifls  at  the 
headlands. 

ST.   GEOR(tE  ISLAND. 

St.  George  lies  to  the  southeast  of  St.  Paul  at  a  distance  of  about  40  miles,  in 
latitude  50°  36'  north  and  longitude  109°  32'  west.*  It  has  a  total  length  of  12  miles 
and  a  width  of  4.^  miles.  The  area  is  about  35.9  square  miles,  and  it  has  a  coast  line 
of  30  miles.  The  central  portion  of  the  island  is  composed  of  an  elevated  ridge 
containing  one  peak  over  900  feet  in  height.    The  general  altitude  of  the  island 


"Latitiulu  and  lougitudu  of  tiie  villaj;o. 


31 


32 


THE    FUR   SEALS    OK   THE    I'RIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


IH  about  thruu  times  ii.s  great  as  that  of  iSt.  I'aul.  Tliu  coant  line  is  tor  tiiu  most  part 
a  succossion  of  Htecp,  rocky  (jlitt'a,  l»reai{iiig  at  Intervals  into  sliort  stretclies  of  rocky 
slope.  High  Hlutf,  on  tlie  north  shore,  with  an  elevation  of  over  1,000  feet  beiut;  tiie 
highest.  The  ])erpen(licular  clift's  and  crevh-es  among  the  bowlders  in  the  upland 
portions  of  the  island  are  the  homes  of  innumerable  sea  birds.  There  are  practi(;ally 
n«>  sand  beaches  on  the  island,  and  the  shore  space  available  for  rookery  purjwses  is 
limited.    By  blasting  ort'  the  clitls  it  might,  however,  be  greatly  extended. 

OTTKK   ISLAM). 

Otter  Island  is  situated  on  the  south  of  8t.  I'aul  Island  and  about  ti  nules  distant 
from  it.  It  is  said  tut  be  the  only  island  of  the  group  which  shows  evidence  of  recent 
volcanic  a<'tion.  Itsareais  very  small,  being  le.is  than  llfi  acres  in  extent.  Its  shores 
are  for  the  most  part  inaccessible.  At  the  western  end  a  cinder  cone  rises  in  a  grassy 
slope  to  the  luMght  of  .{OO  feet  and  drops  off  in  a  sheer  clitf  ou  the  seaward  side.  At 
the  eastern  end  is  the  i)it  of  a  crater,  connected  by  a  subterranean  i)as8ageway  with 
the  shore.  On  the  northern  face  the  surface  of  the  island  .slojtes  down  into  a  low, 
rocky  beach  of  limited  extent,  the  only  one  on  the  island. 

WALlirS    ISLAND. 

Walrus  Island  lies  about  7  miles  to  the  east  of  St.  Paul.  It  is  a  nariow  ledge  of 
lava  rock  about  half  a  mile  in  length.  It  reaches  no  degree  of  elevation,  and  in 
stormy  weather  the  breakers  wash  over  it.  It  is  the  home  of  countless  numbers  of 
sea  birds  and  was  formerly  freciuented  by  walru.ses.    Sea  lions  occasionally  land  there. 

SlVUn.'H   ROCK. 

Sivutch  Hock  is  a  little  crescent-.shaped  ro«;ky  islet  about  a  third  of  a  mile  oH'tlie 
southern  shon;  of  St.  I'aul.  Its  area  is  insignificant,  but  the  i.sland  attains  some 
degree  of  importance  through  the  presence  of  a  snmll  fur-seal  rookery,  which  fills  its 
available  space. 

NO  (iOOD   HAKItORS. 

Tliere  are  no  harbors  of  any  kind  about  the  islands  of  the  Pribilof  group.  The 
bays  are  small  and  very  shallow.  In  calm  weather,  however,  there  is  anchorage  for 
small  vessels  at  various  points.  In  stormy  weather  it  is  impossible  to  load  or  unload 
vessels  of  any  kind  with  safety.  Dangerous  reefs  are  found  about  both  islands,  and 
navigation  in  their  viciuity  is  subject  to  many  risks. 

THE  CLIMATE. 

The  climate  of  the  Pribilof  Islands  in  summer  is  damp  and  chilly.  Dense  fogs 
almost  constantly  envelop  them,  rain  falls  freciuently,  and  the  sun  is  seldom  seen. 
The  summer  temperature  ranges  between  40'^  and  4.5'^  F.,  reaching  its  highest  point  in 
August.  During  June,  .luly,  and  August  but  few  clear  days  occur.  In  September 
the  cold  winds  sweep  away  the  moisture  from  the  atmosphere  and  bright  days  become 
more  numerous.  On  a  clear  day  the  islands  are  extremely  pictures«|ue.  Toward  the 
end  of  October  the  storms  become  more  violent,  and  iu  November  winter  begins,  the 
change  of  season  being  very  rapid. 


I.IKE    (»N    THE    rUlltlLOF    18hAN')i4. 


33 


nuriiig  tho  winter  imu'h  snow  fiillH, but  it  is  swept  away  l»y  llie  iii|;ii  winds  wliicli 
prevail  tiirciKlioiit  the  season.  The  winter  tcinperiiture  ranges  IVoni  --^  to  '_'»}  K. 
Tile  waters  about  the  inlands  do  not  freeze,  but  towaril  the  end  of  tiie  winter  tlie  drill 
ice  from  tlie  north  fl'  tts  down  aiul  incloses  the  islands,  piling  hi^'h  upon  the  Ixsutlies 
and  in  the  bays  >  uler  the  action  of  the  surf.  It  remains  packed  about  the  islands 
until  about  the  ist  uf  May,  when  it  gradually  disappears  under  the  ap[)roaching 
(change  of  season. 

VKOKTATION. 

The  surface  of  the  elevated  portions  of  both  islands  is  in  sunnner  elotiied  with 
moss  and  grasses,  in  which  are  surprising  numbers  of  showy  wild  flowers.  Conspic- 
uous among  them  are  the  Iceland  poppy,  monkshood,  species  of  lupine,  betoiiy, 
chrysanthenuun,  seuecio,*  saxifrage,  harebell,  aiul  many  others.  The  lower  parts 
of  the  islands  are  covered  with  a  soil  of  black  lava  saiul,  in  which  tiourishes  a  coars(>, 
rank,  useless  grass — the  wihl  rye  grass  (fc7//»J»<s  moUin).  Mingled  with  it  is  the  coarse 
pntvhkh  a  spc(!ies  of  ArclKdujdica,  used  by  the  Aleuts  as  a  s[tice.  The  abandoned 
hauling  grounds  of  the  fur  seals  are  rapidly  invaded  by  two  species  of  slen<ler, 
light  green  grasses,  (iUjirrhi  ungitHtata  and  Desvhtiiiipnia  cwspitimt,  known  as  "seal 
grass."  These  contrast  sharply  with  the  coarse,  dark-green  rye  grass  and  a  luxuriant 
species  of  wormwood,  neither  of  which  grow  on  land  where  seals  have  regularly 
hauled.  About  the  rookeries  themselves  the  movements  of  the  animals  virtually 
destroy  all  vegetation.  There  are  no  trees  or  shrubs.  A  small,  dwarfish  willow  and 
a  species  of  crowberry  are  the  only  approach  to  them  that  are  to  be  found. 

TIIK   MAMMALS. 

The  principal  mammals  of  the  I'ribilof  Islands  are  the  fur  seals,  which  have 
their  breeding  grounds  on  the  rocky  beaches  of  St.  Paul  and  St.  (leorge  islands.  At 
certain  points  on  the  islands  are  .sea  lion  rookeries,  and  numbers  of  the  animals  are 
at  all  times  to  be  seen  lying  about  among  the  fur  seals.  A  snudler  number  of  hair-seals 
also  frequent  points  about  St.  Paul  Island.  Formerly  sea  otters  and  walruses  were 
not  uncommon,  but  they  are  now  practically  extinct.  The  blue  fox  is  common  to 
both  islands,  aiul  mingled  with  the  blue  foxes  are  a  limited  number  of  white  ones. 
Lemmings  are  found  on  St.  (reorge  and  shrews  on  both  islands. 

THE  UIBDS. 

Myriads  of  sea  birds  breed  on  the  rocky  cliffs  of  St.  George  Island.  Among  these 
are  the  cormorants,  niurres,  and  chutchkis,  sea  parrots  and  gulls.  Walrus  Island 
is  literally  covered  with  these  birds  in  the  nesting  season.  Their  eggs  are  gathered 
by  the  natives  in  boat  h>ads  in  the  spring.  About  the  little  poiuls  in  the  interior 
of  the  islands  sandpipers  abound.  Phalaropes  are  luimerous  in  the  summer.  Teal 
and  mallard  ducks  are  found  in  the  fall,  (leese  in  limited  numbers  alight  on  St.  Paul 
to  feed  on  the  berries  near  north  shore.    White  owls  have  been  found  on  both  islands. 


ll 


INHAUITANTS. 

At  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  the  Pribilof  Islands,  in  1786,  they  were  uninhab- 
ited.   In  order  to  obtain  laborers  to  handle  the  seals,  natives  were  brought  over  from 
15184 3 


1. 


:{i 


rilK    Flit   SKAI-S   OK   TIIK    rUIHILOF   IHLANDS. 


tli(*  Alt'iitiiiii  Isliiiids,  and  tliu  IIi'h^  colony  was  cstiiblislicd  on  St.  (iiMti-K**  l.slan<l,  near 
kStiirayu  Artel  rook*>ry,  so  nilloii  IVoin  this  t'a«'t,  tiiti  nanio  meaning  "old  ^oild"  or 
association.  OtiuM-  viliaf^tts  \v(>n!  at'tofwai'ds  establiHJiud  on  this  island  at  Zapadni  and 
at  (iardcii  ('ove. 

In  tliu  coiirst^  of  tiniu  nii>n  woi-u  carried  in  similar  nninner  to  St.  I'aiil  Island,  the 
Aleutian  settlements  at  (Inalaska  and  Atka  bein^  ebiolly  drawn  iiiion.  The  first 
settlement  on  St.  I'anI  was  established  at  tlio  foot  of  the  hujio.  shallow  IMishalke  Lake 
at  the  northern  end  of  thu  island.  Later  .scttlunicnts  were  hutatud  at  INdovina  and  at 
Zapadni  of  St.  I'aiil. 

(JONDrriONS  IN   ttl^SSlAN    DAYS. 

When,  in  I71M),  the  Itnssian-Amorican  Coin]>any  came  into  control  of  the  islands, 
the  various  settlements  on  St.  Paul  were  grouped  into  one  at  Polovina.  Afterwards 
they  were  Irarisferred  to  the  present  location  of  the  vilhijiji',  in  order  to  be  near  the 
most  advantageous  hmdiiii;  places,  in  like  nuinner,  the  villages  at  (larden  (<ove, 
Zapiidni,  ami  Staraya  Artel  were  gradually  broken  up  and  the  inhabitants  {jronped 
on  the  present  site  of  the  village  of  St.  (leorge,  on  the  northern  face  of  the  island. 

Of  the  condition  of  the  Aleuts  in  these  early  days  of  Uussian  control  Mr.  Klliott 
says: 

'I'lioy  went  mere  sliives,  without  the  Bli((htoat  redress  from  tiny  iiiHolcnnt  or  in.jiirioN  wliicli  their 
iniiHlcrM  nii^ht  seo  lit  in  iH<tiiliiiice  or  hnitul  or^rit^s  to  inllict  niion  thnin.  Iloro  they  liv(til  and  diiid, 
iiniioticoil  iiiid  iinciinMl  for,  in  hir^u  biirracoons,  hiilf  uudefKroiind  and  dirt  roofoil,  cold  and  lilthy. 

This  is  probably  not  an  extreme  jucture  of  the  condition  of  the  natives  in  l{n.ssian 
times.  The  Aleuts  ;it  the  i»resent  time  look  back  to  tiiese  as  their  halcyon  days;  but 
this  feelinjx  may  «'\ist  as  tlu^  memory  of  indulgences  which  they  are  forbidden  now. 
It  is  certain  that  but  little  thought  or  care  was  bestowed  ni)on  them  by  their  Kussian 
niauiigers  beyond  seeing  that  they  did  the  required  work. 

CONDITIONS   UNDKU   AMKUICAN   CONTHOL. 

lender  Amerii'iin  (iontrol  matters  (dianged.  The  Alaska  Commercial  Company 
early  in  the  ])eriod  of  its  lease  erected  suitable  frame  cottages,  furnished  with  the 
substantial  comforts  of  life,  which  took  the  place  of  the  cheerless  and  insanitary  sod 
houses,  oi  barrabaras.  A  physician  with  the  necessary  medical  supplies  was  stationed 
on  each  island  to  care  for  the  wants  of  the  people.  Churches  were  erected  and  pre- 
sided over  by  priests  of  the  Russian-dreek  faith.  Schools  in  which  the  lOnglish 
branches  are  taught  were  established.  Wood  and  coal  took  the  place  of  the  filthy 
seal-blubber  and  driftwood  fuel.  The  former  exrliisive  diet  of  seal  meat  was  supple- 
mented by  many  of  the  stai)les  and  even  luxuries  of  civilized  living. 

TUK   HANl)LlN(r  Ol'  T'KR   .-fKALS. 

All  the  work  of  driving,  slaughtering,  and  skinning  the  seals,  as  well  as  the  curing 
of  the  skins,  is  done  by  the  Aleuts  under  the  direction  of  the  agents  of  the  lessees. 
They  are  paid  by  the  lessees  for  this  labor  at  so  much  per  skin.  Under  the  old  lease 
this  was  40  cents,  and  for  the  100,000  skins  regularly  taken  this  gave  a  fund  of 
$40,000  for  the  support  of  a  total  population  of  between  400  and  450,  of  both  sexes 
and  all  ages.  At  the  present  time  the  price  is  50  cents  a  skin,  but  the  number 
of  skins  taken  has  greatly  decreased. 


I 


THE   ALEUT   PKOPLB. 


35 


Tliti  iiiiniiii^rsut'  tlic  natives  iiru  treated  uh  a  coiiiiniiiiity  fiiiul,  wliicli  is  distribiitt'il 
to  tlie  workers  in  several  classes,  aceontiiifj;  to  tlieir  skill  or  experifiice.  The  aiiioiiiit 
due  to  eat'li  I'amily  is  credihd  (o  Iheiii  on  tlie  hooks  of  the  lessees  and  is  drawn  npoii 
by  them  through  the  island  stoio  as  it  is  needed. 

rilK   SIIIM'OBT   (IK   TIIK,   AM'.I'TS. 

When,  ill  ISttO,  the  <|U(ita  of  seal  skins  fell  to  about  ono-llfth  its  former  number,  and 
when  it  was  still  further  reduced  under  the  modus  vivendi  of  l.S!»l-18i»;{,  the  income 
of  the  Aleuts  became  so  H:reatly  reduced  as  to  l»o  inadc(|uate  to  meet  their  wants.  To 
cover  the  dellciency  the  (iovernmeiit  has  each  year  since  that  tinie  appropriated  an 
atlditional  sum  of  money  for  their  support.  The  liberal,  not  to  say  prodigal,  character 
of  this  allowance  can  be  judged  by  the  fact  that  for  the  season  of  1800  these  peojde 
exhausted,  in  addition  to  their  eaniinjrs,  of  about  |10,(»00,  fronj  the  taking  of  seal  and 
fox  skins,  the  full  (congressional  a]>propriation  of  i!*19,r)0(>.  They  pay  nothing  for  rent, 
taxes,  or  for  medical  attendance,  and  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year  their  meat 
is  free.  There  are  few  laboring  communities  whose  peojtle  can  boast  of  such  generous 
conditions  of  su|>port. 

The  original  colony  of  Aleuts  transported  to  the  islands  numbered,  according  to 
Mr.  lilliott,  l.'iT  souls.  To  these  additions  were  made  from  time  to  time.  In  1871 
Captain  Hryant  tells  us  that  the  i^opulatiou  of  the  two  islands  numbered  •12(»  persons, 
of  both  seres  and  all  ages.  No  new  accessions  have  been  made  lately,  and  the 
])opuhiti(>ii  has  dwindled  to  slightly  less  than  3(M>  at  the  present  time. 

The  Aleuts  are  a  gentle  and  tractable  class  of  jieople.  They  are  courteous  in 
their  manners  and  unusually  skillful  in  their  work.  They  have  the  usiuil  aboriginal 
weaknesses  for  rum  and  the  vices  of  civili/.ation,  but  as  a  result  of  the  isolated 
position  of  the  islands,  and  the  strict  control  which  the  (Jovernnient  is  able,  through 
its  oHicers,  to  exercise  over  them,  the  [teoide  of  St.  Paul  and  St.  (ieorgo  are  a 
respectable  and  orderly  class. 

THE  GOVEUNMKNT  ACKNTS. 

The  interests  of  the  (rovernmcnt  on  the  islands  are  in  charge  of  agents  of  the 
Treasury  Department,  who  sui)ervise  the  work  of  the  natives,  look  after  their  wants, 
and  enforce  the  authority  of  the  (iovernment.  The  natives  are  allowed,  in  largo 
measure,  nominally  to  govern  themselves.  They  hsvve  a  head  chief  and  second  chief, 
who  deal  directly  with  the  people,  and  are  in  turn  dealt  with  by  the  Government 
agents.  The  relations  of  the  people  with  one  another  are  contr(dle<l  by  a  council  of 
the  wise  men,  chosen,  like  the  chiefs,  by  the  |»eople  themselves. 

On  the  whole,  the  lot  of  the  Aleut  on  the  Pribilof  Islands  is  an  unusually  favored 
one.  Ho  works  but  a  few  months  in  the  summer  and  is  liberally  fed  and  clothed  by 
the  Government.  If  the  seal  herd  is  again  restored  to  its  former  capacity,  he  may  in 
time  even  become  wealthy.  Tlie  chief  social  drawback  in  his  relations  lies  in  the  want 
of  consecutive  work.  The  lack  of  anything  to  do  through  the  long  winter  induces 
laziness  and  gambling.  Kven  useless  work  if  continuous  would  be  a  real  boon  to  the 
Aleut. 


]. 


Mi  TlIK    KUK    SKALS    OK    THK    I'UIIMLOF    ISLANDS. 

B.  THE  FUR-SEAL  ROOKERIES. 

THE    IlllKKDINti   flUOlNDS. 

Wlion'vtT  tluMCi  is  a  rocky  luiadi  of  sonic  bicaiUli  or  a  slopiiijif  rocky  liill  on  llic 
l*-i!»ilol'  Islands  tlic  (ur  soals  liave  located  tlicir  brccdiiif;-  {jronnds.  or  "rookeries.''  as 
tiicy  arc  called.  Tiic  best  type  of  rookery  jirroiind  is  a  moderate  slo]»e  covered  with 
coarse  rocks  and  descendinjj  to  a  beach  of  siiiii;r|(>  oj-  ntiinded  bowlders.  On  these 
beaches  llieir  {jrejiarious  habits  cause  the  animals  to  crowd  tofjether  in  dose  set 
masses.  The  limits  of  the  rookeries  are  defined  by  abrupt  clill's  or  headlands,  which 
entofVthe  beadu's,  by  inaccessible  cliffs  that  rise  in  the  rear  and  by  interveninj;  santl 
beaches.  They  .-.eldom  extend  far  ba(;k  from  the  sea  under  any  condition,  as  access 
to  the  wafer  is  an  essential  feature. 

THE   lIAULIN(i    (iK(»UM)S. 

Adjoiniiif;  the  breediufj  grounds  and  an  essential  part  of  each  rookery  are  what 
ar»'  known  as  the  "haulinjj  {i;ronnds"  of  the  ba(!helors,  freipiented  l)y  \\'.^  youiif?  males 
of  the  a^es  of")  years  and  under,  these  classes  beinjf  strictly  excluded  from  the  breed- 
iiij:;  jjrounds.  These  hauliufj  grounds  are  usually  located  on  sandy  beaches  bfuiMing 
t  lie  breed  in, !>•  grounds  or  on  the  flat  "parade"  grouiuls  above  and  in  the  rear  of  the 
harems.  In  most  cases  the  bachelors  are  forced  to  encircle  the  end  of  the  breeding 
grounds  to  reach  their  locations  in  tlio  rear,  but  in  sonu>  cases  neutral  8trii)s  or  run- 
ways are  left  atmmg  the  iiarema  through  which  the  bachelors  haul  out  unmolested. 
Not  iiilre(iuently  the  bachelors  seek  to  use  runways  wliidi  are  not  recognized  as 
luMitral.and  they  are  summarily  thrown  cut  by  the  harem  uiask'rs.  This  leads  to 
confusion  ami  figliting  among  the  bulls,  and  the  conse(pu'nt  tlestruction  of  females 
and  young  pui)s.  In  many  cases  the  hauling  groumls  are  at  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  breeding  grounds,  but  even  where  tiu'y  are  located  immediately  in  the  rear 
of  the  liarems.  a  buffer  of  idle  or  reserve  bulls  keeps  tlu'in  at  a  safe  distance.  The 
young  nmles  have  a  wliolesoi.ie  and  well  defined  fear  of  the  bulls,  which  experience 
ami)ly  justifies. 

In  tlie  present  deplctetl  condition  of  the  fur-seal  herd  much  ground  once  oceui)ied 
has  been  abandoiu'd.  The  tendency  of  the  animals,  in  obedience  to  their  gregarious 
instincts,  is  i)  crowd  togetiuM".  and  as  their  numbers  decrease  the  rookeries  shrink 
u]).  With  t'lie  restoration  of  the  herd  these  abandoned  grounds  will  und(ml)tedly  be 
reoccujued.  It  is  probable  that  the  occupation  of  absolutely  new  ground  could  only 
result  from  an  overcrowded  condition  of  t!ie  rookeries.  Not  all  the  available  si)ace  on 
tiie  islands  was  ever  occupied  even  in  the  time  of  greatest  expansion,  as  tliere  are 
long  stretches  of  suitable  beach  line  on  which  seals  Imvc  never  been  ki.own  to  breed. 

THE    ST.   I'AIM,   KOOKEKIKS. 

The  following  is  a  brief  description  of  the  itreeding  rookeries  of  St.  Paul  Island, 
beginning  at  Northwest  Point  : 

/.  \'i>si<K'lnii*  (rustcni). — This  rookery  lies  on  tiie  northern  face  of  the  i)eninsala  of 
Northeast  Point.     It  extends  from  tlie  vicinity  of  Cross  Hill,  nt  the  termination  of  the 

*Tlio(lift(>ri'iit  I'lir  s.'al  rnoUerii's  liavc  for  tlic  most  ,);iit  iflttiiied  tlu-iv  ])ictiiresi|iu'  I{iis,si.aii  iiiiir..'s. 
It  is  vrry  ilcsiiiilili'  th;it  they  dlioiilcl  coiiHimi'  ti>  «li>  so,  iiiiil  it  woiilil  bo  ii)i|)roiiriiilt'  if  Uiissiiiii  oi|uiva- 
Iciits  wore  siilistitiitod  for  tli«!  lew  I'.Uitiish  iiiimos  wliicli  liavi"  coiiin  into  use.  In  tlic  Npcllinj;  o(  tfio 
Hiissiiin  naiui'8  ^^t■  Iiavo  followed  tin;  prosont  avceptrd  muthods  of  trutulitcrivtioii  midiT  tlio  advice  of 


1. 


rirK    UOOKEUIF.S    OF    ST.    I'Al'L. 


37 


jjreiil  sand  bcadi  known  ns  "Xortli  Slioro,"  to  tlio.  tip  of  tlic  point  itself.  It  occnpios 
for  tilt'  most  jiart  IkmicIuw  of  coarse,  howlders,  witii  occasional  ontcro|>pinj;s  of  liiirciiis 
on  tlic  tiat  jjjmund  above.  The  lino  of  liarenis  is  freipiently  broken  by  short  siretclms 
of  sand  lieai'li,  wiiicli  are  used  by  the  baciielors  as  runways  to  reacii  (heir  haidinf^ 
urouiids.  On  the  seaward  slope  of  Mutch 'ison  Hill,  whieli  forms  the  hif^hesl  part  of 
the  jjcninsula,  the  rookery  becomes  greatly  widened  and  closely  massed.  Late  in  the 
seas<Hi  harems  were  even  foiiiul  at  the  summit  of  the  hill. 

Krom  this  point  to  the  end  of  tln^  rookery  the  harems  scatter  alon;;  the  bowlder 
beach  in  a  narrow  bainl.  About  midway  to  the  end  is  a  small  sea  lion  rookery.  At 
the  eastern  angle  of  Hutchinson  Hill  ami  on  the  sand  beach  behind  Cross  Hill  are  the 
most  important  haulin};  grounds  of  the  rookery,  though  at  the  jnesent  time,  owing  t() 
the  numerous  breaks  in  the  lines  of  breeding  seals,  small  pods  of  bachehns  are  to  be 
found  at  a  large  number  of  otinu'  places. 

','.  Mi)>jori  (of  the.  imlnis). — The  line  of  division  between  this  and  the  preceding 
rookery  is  a  purely  arbitrary  one.  At  the  point  there  is  a  (!oiisiderable  break  in  the 
line  of  harems  and  behind  is  a  small  hauling  ground.  The  harems  resume  and  follow 
along  the  bowlder  beach  as  before  for  a  short  distance.  Tlien  a  break  occuis,  with  a 
runway  for  the  bachelors  and  another  sea-lion  rookery.  Heyond  this  is  the  juintipal 
]>orti(m  of  the  rookery.  It  consists  of  a  large  body  of  harems  closely  nnissed  and  lying 
back  on  the  Hat  at  the  angle  of  the  sand  beach  at  VValins,  Hight.  ISehind  and  to  the 
west  of  this  mass  is  the  great  hauling  ground  of  Morjovi  rookery.  Beyond  the  sand 
beach  scattering  groups  of  harems  occur  on  tlie  sides  of  a  long,  narrow,  tongue  of  land 
Jut  ting. 'Ut  to  (he  eastward,  called  Sea  Lion  Neck.  Another  sand  beach  intervenes,  and 
the  rookery  ends  in  a  considerable  mass  of  harems  gr(iui)cd  about  a  rocky  point  nearly 
opposite  Webster  Lake,  on  the  eastern  side  of  tint  peninsula.  An  nnimportaiit  hauling 
gnmnd  lies  at  the  extreme  cud  of  the  rookery. 

Vostoclini  and  Moijovi  combined  furnish  the  greatest  continuous  I'l  leal  rookery 
on  the  two  islands.  Along  their  .'!  miles  of  coast  line  are  upward  of  l(H),(t(l((  fur  seals 
of  all  classes,  about  onelburth  of  the  total  number  on  the  I'ribilof  Islands,  h'rom 
the  summit  of  Hutchinson  Hill  a  bird's  eye  view  of  the  two  rookeries  can  be  had,  and 
the  sight  is  a  most  impressive  one.  A  greater  number  of  fur  seals  (or  tor  that  matter 
any  other  animals)  is  to  be  seen  here  than  for  any  other  ]toiiit  in  the  world. 

.7.  I'olorina  (hdlfwinf). — This  rookery,  as  its  name  indicates,  is  located  halfway 
between  Northeast  Point  and  the  village.  The  main  part  of  the  rookeiy  lies  massed 
upon  the  beach  and  the  Hat  above  the  elitVs  that  rise  fnuu  the  h»w  re«'f  of  I'olovina 
I'oint  and  shade  down  with  a  gentle  slope  to  the  great  sand  beachwhii'h  stret(;lies 
away  -  miles  i>r  iiKne  to  Stony  Point.  At  tlm  aisgle  (if  the  sand  beach  the  bachelors 
make  their  way  to  the  hauling  ground  in  the  rear  of  the  massed  portion  of  the  rookery. 

It  i'oiii)iotuiit  UuhHi:iii  scliolar,  Mr.  Aliv's  \.  KmIijiio.  lilinirlaii  ol'  Mii<  I'liiviTHity  <il'  liiiliniwi.  .Mik^Ii 
ctiiil'iiHion  ill  the  rci'iinlH  Iimh  itriscn  HiriiUKli  iIk'  I'lirriMit  iiKr  cit' ii  KiiHsi.iii  and  KiikIi^Ii  iiaiin' for  tli(t 
sniiio  |ilai'i',  as  i'cir  oxiiiiipK',  /ai>.'iilni  anil  Siiiitliwost  May,  Foloviiia  and  llalt'vvay  I'liiiit.  Wo  liavo  in 
oarli  caso  trii  d  to  Nidurt  llru  nioHt  Hiiilaldc  naiiio  lor  llio  piirposc,  nnd  it  is  In  Im>  liopi'd  Unit  in  Mie 
l'iit.iu'o  afjontcandolhorsroiicoriiod  will  cunform  totlio  iisiini'  lirro  ailoplcd.  \Vr  liavo  {fivrn  a  Hcparato 
liaiiio  ti^  onidi  of  tlio  llirro  parts  of  what  Inm  beiMi  {{I'ln-rally  kiinwii  as  /.apailni.  'I'lio  grual  ;'(ioUcry 
lyins;  alioul  tin' Hhorrs  of  N'ortlicast  I'oint  has  Immmi  dividi-d  lor  roiivriiiciMi' at  tin- lip  of  tin-  point. 
It  has  lioen  tlimiglil  licst.  hiiciiimr  <d"  tlio  iniportaiiro  it  liaw  olilaini'd  throii^li  tlio  trrc|nrnt  olisiMvatioim 
iinidi*  upon  it  dnriiii;  tliis  invi-stiKation,  to  ilesignato  ao  Ardi^iii-ii  rookery,  a  snnill  dctarlii'd  liruudiiig 
aicu  oil  lit'i'l'|iuiiiiiHiilii. 


I 


38 


THE   FUR    SEALS   OF   THE    PRIBILOF   ISLANDS. 


Above  Polovina  Point  extend  gteep  dirts  with  a  narrow  bciicli  of  shingle,  along 
whicli  harems  are  8(!attered  in  detached  groups.  Occasional  breaks  or  runways  in 
the  cliff  wall  give  access  to  the  flat  ground  above,  and  at  one  or  two  points  the  harems 
overflow  on  the  level.  At  the  last  break  iu  the  cliff  is  a  large  hauling  ground. 
Tiie  cliif  tiieu  doses  in,  and  for  a  half  mile  leaves  no  room  for  the  seals  to  lie.  Again, 
as  at  the  southern  end,  the> cliff'  shades  off"  in  a  gradual  slope  to  the  sand  beach,  whicii 
continues  to  the  northward  as  far  as  Northeast  Point.  On  this  northern  rocky  slope 
of  tlie  clitt'  is  situated  the  small  but  picturesque  rookery  of  Little  Polovina,  in  reality 
an  overflow  of  tiie  greater  rookery.  The  Polovina  rookeries  have  a  population  of 
about  2(»,0()(>  seals  of  all  classes. 

■J.  LuhtmH  [name  of  an  eayly  seal  hunter). — From  Stony  Point  to  the  southward  is 
the  great  sand  beacli  of  Lukanin.  At  its  end  rises  the  rocky  slope  of  Lukanin  Hill, 
alon<^  viUich  the  rookery  of  the  same  name  lies.  At  the  northern  end  is  the  hauling 
ground  of  the  rookery.  It  is  a  favorite  resort  for  the  very  young  bachelors,  a  greater 
jn'oportion  being  found  here  than  on  any  other  rookery.  Part  of  the  breeding  ground 
lies  at  the  foot  of  clitts,  which  are  easy  of  approach,  and  as  the  rookery  is  near  to  the 
village  it  has  been  made  the  subject  of  (;lose  study  by  numerous  observers. 

5.  Kitov'i  [ofihe  whale), — This  rookery  is  merely  a  continuation  of  Lukanin,  from 
which  it  is  sep.arated  by  the  purely  arbitrary  boundary  of  Lukanin  Point.  The 
rookery  lies  along  bold  rocks,  basaltic  columns,  and  slopes  of  cinder  and  lava.  I* 
is  an  ideal  rookery  ground,  as  the  slight  mortality  of  pupn  indicates,  only  about  10!) 
dead  pups  being  found  in  18%  in  a  total  of  0,049.  The  hauling  ground  of  this 
rookery  is  unimportant,  probably  because  the  bachelors  haul  out  with  those  from 
iiUkanin.  The  few  which  haul  out  at  Kitovi  proper  are  Ibund  at  the  southern  end  of 
the  rookery,  back  of  Kitovi  15ay.  Kitovi  and  Lukanin  are  in  reality  one  great 
rookery.    They  repiesent  a  total  population  of  about  2."),000  seals. 

II.  h'erf  ( Russian,  rifovoye). — At  tiie  southern  end  of  St.  Paul  Island  another  long 
narrow  neck  of  land  Juts  out,  known  as  Kecf  peninsula.  On  the  southern  shore  of  this 
]>eninsula  is  the  great  breeding  ground  known  as  lieef  rookery.  The  harems  lie  along 
the  irregular  beach  for  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile,  in  the  <'entral  portion  the  seals 
extend  back  in  long,  wedge  shaped  masses  for  a  ( onsiderable  distance  over  the  gentle 
slope  strewn  with  large  bowlders. 

In  the  rear  of  tiie  central  portion  of  this  rookery  is  the  great  hauling  ground, 

which  lies  in  a  hollow  between  two  rocky  ridges.     Connecting  this  hauling  ground  with 

the  sea  are  four  runways,  whicli  divide  the  rookery  into  iive  large  masses.     In  two  of 

I!  'se  runways  occur  ponds  of  water,  which  All  by  the  surf  in  the  winter  and  become 

r  :il<   cribably  foul  in  summer,  as  the  bachelors  wallow  through  them. 

Keef  rookery  is  one  of  the  hugest  on  the  islands.  It  is  separated  from  its  fellow 
^♦lorbatch)  on  the  other  side  of  the  peninsula  by  a  broad  Hat  upland,  known  as  the 
"liarade  gnnind."  This  parade  ground  occupies  the  highest  part  of  the  jieninsula. 
It  extends  back  from  the  perpendicular  dirt's  at  the  westward  end  in  a  long  easy  slojie 
to  the  eastward,  where  it  falls  to  the  water's  edge  at  the  beginning  of  the  rookery. 

This  space  was  a  favorite  playground  for  the  bachelors  of  the  two  rookeries  in  the 
jialmy  days,  and  the  wandering  bands  of  seals  kept  its  surface  bare.  A  few  bachelors 
still  haul  across  it,  but  for  the  uu)st  i)art  it  is  to-day  overgrown  with  grass  anil  weeds. 

7.  Siruteli  (sea  lion)  Rovk, — About  a  third  of  a  mile  off'  siiore  from  lieef  rookery 
i8  u  small  crescent-sh»j)ed  rocky  islet.     Its  southern  side  is  au  abrupt  cliff,  but  to  the 


1 


THE    ROOKERIES   OV   ST.    PAUL. 


3!> 


north  it  .slopes  back  {gradually  to  the  water.  IMiis  iio;therii  slope  and  such  other 
points  on  its  surface  as  are  accessible,  are  occupied  by  a  small  rookory  ot  thieeor  four 
thousand  seals.  At  either  end  of  the  islet  is  a  hauling-  ground.  On  ihe  southernmost 
one  the  returning  bachelors  are  said  to  haul  out  first  in  the  spring. 

8ix  miles  farther  off  to  the  south  lies  the  larger  islet  called  Otter  island.  T!:i.s 
is  not  a  rookery  proper,  but  contains  a  hauling  ground,  and  is  resorted  to  by  bachelors, 
])r()bably  from  the  rookeries  of  Reef  peninsula.  A  few  seals  still  haul  there,  and 
(luring  the  season  of  18!)G  a  single  liaren)  of  live  cows  with  their  pups  was  found 
among  them.  This  is  the  first  record  of  breeding  seals  having  occupied  Otter  Island. 
><<>  trace  of  the  harem  was  found  during  the  season  of  18!t7.  The  hauling  ground, 
which  lies  on  the  northern  face  of  the  island,  is  one  of  considerable  extent,  and  in 
former  times  a  large  number  of  seals  evidently  occupied  it.  About  -00  were  found 
there  at  the  time  of  our  visit  in  18()(!,  and  upward  of  a  thousand  in  1S'J7. 

8.  Ardit/iirn  (piic  of  .stones), — On  the  western  edge  of  Jieef  peniusida,  and  just 
north  of  the  ultimate  point,  is  an  isolated  cioncave  rocky  slope  and  beach  overlooked 
by  high  i)anii>et-lik('  clitt's,  above  the  genenil  level  of  Ueef  rookery,  to  the  sniface  of 
which  the  breeding  ground  ascends  at  one  point  in  a  "slide."  The  rocky  beach,  the 
slide,  and,  in  189(»,  a  part  of  the  flat  above  were  filled  with  harems.  Other  harems 
extended  along  the  narrow  beach  at  the  foot  of  the  clitt',  which  everywhere  rises  sheer 
from  the  western  end  of  the  peninsula.  The  wall-like  rocks  above  the  slide  portion  of 
th(^  rookery  make  it  possible  to  watch  the  seals  at  close  range  without  disturbing  them, 
"^t  is  the  best  point  on  the  island  for  the  observation  of  rookery  life.  Almost  daily 
obscrvatiiMis.  a  record  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  Daily  .Journal  (I 'art  11),  were  made 
upon  it  during  the  summer  of  180G,  and  on  this  account  it  has  been  given  a  separate 
name.     It  has  heretofore  been  included  in  lieef  rookery. 

.9.  (htrbtitvh  {the  Inimi)), — This  picturesque  rookery  lies  on  the  north  shore  of  Reef 
peninsula  and  faces  Zoltoi  Hay.  The  steep  cliffs  on  the  western  end,  iit  (lorhatch 
Point,  break  down  in  a  long  cinder  sh)pe,  which  rises  rather  steeply  from  the 
shingle  beach  to  the  parade  ground  above.  Along  the  bowlder  beach  and  the  foot 
of  the  slope  the  harems  lie  close  together,  extending  back  at  one  or  two  points  in 
wedge-shaped  masses.  On  the  flat  rocks  at  the  point  nnirking  the  beginning  of  the 
bay  is  a  favorite  sleeping  place  for  a  few  sea  lions,  and  near  by  is  an  isolated  rock  (tn 
which  a  small  group  of  hair  seals  are  usually  to  be  seen  hauled  out. 

To  the  iu)rthward  the  cinder  slope  shades  into  a  slope  of  smooth  rock,  and  this  is 
succeeded  in  turn  by  a  slope  covered  with  great  irregular  bowlders.  At  the  end  <tf 
this  an  abrupt  dilV  begins,  and  the  rookery  terminates  in  a  long  belt  of  harems  on  the 
narrow  beach  at  its  foot.  At  the  angle,  where  the  clilf  breaks  down  suddenly  into 
the  sand  beach  of  the  bay,  is  the  faruiuis  hauling  ground  known  as  Zoltoi,  (golden) 
(more  correctly  spelled  Zolotoi),  I'rom  its  yellowish  lava  sands.  This  is  the  only 
hauling  ground  for  (lorbatch  rookery,  and  in  the  days  when  the  shores  uf  the  Reef 
r<»okery  were  p. eked  with  harems  it  was  practically  the  only  hauling  gnnind  for  the 
two  rookeries.  Across  the  neck  of  the  peninsula,  which  is  here  very  narrow,  is  a  small 
<!(»ve  like  beach  frecpiented  by  biuihelors,  probably  from  th»^  Reef  rookery. 

The  nearness  of  Zoltoi  to  the  village  (about  one  fourth  of  a  mile  away)  has  brought 
its  herds  under  constant  inspection.  The  earliest  and  latest  drives  are  always  made 
from  this  point. 


i 


40 


THE    FUR   SEALS   OF   THE    PBIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


Keel"  iind  (iorbiitch  rookeries  are  in  reality  one  great  breeding  ground.  They 
r('i)resent  a  total  iK)i)ulatiou,  including  Ardignen  and  Sivutch  Hock,  of  about  70,(M)0 
seals. 

10.  Spilki  (thf  points). — This  is  the  abandoned  rookery  Kitace,  which  formerly 
occupied  the  slope  and  beach  of  the  hill  back  of  the  village  of  St.  I'aul.  The 
ground  was  occupied  until  about  ten  years  ago  as  a  rooker'-,  when  it  was  gradually 
abandoned. 

//.  Liujonn, — This  rookery  is  separated  from  the  site  of  Spilki  by  a  short  stretch 
of  sand  beach  and  the  narrow  channel  connecting  the  sail  lagoon  with  the  village 
t'ove.  it  is  situated  on  a  long  reef  of  coarse  bowlders,  which  has  been  gradually 
pushed  up  by  the  ice  until  it  iias  almost  completely  shut  ol!'  the  lagoon  from  the  sea. 
The  rookery  is  a  small  one,  having  a  population  of  only  about  G,()00  seals.  There  is 
a  small  hauling  ground  on  the  rear  or  lagoon  side  of  the  reef,  but  no  drives  are  nnule 
from  it. 

lii.  Tohtoi  {thick). — From  the  angle  of.  the  reef  on  which  Lagoon  rookery  is  located 
the  dill's  rise  abruptly,  leaving  but  little  beach.  At  the  bold  point  of  Tolstoi  Mys 
or  headland  the  rookery  of  s  s  '  tir  •  begins,  extending  along  the  southern  curve  of 
English  l>ay  to  the  great  san(  'i  at  its  foot.    For  a  considerable  distance  the 

harems  lie  on  the  narrow  beach  i  ho  foot  of  steep  clift's.  About  the  middle  of  the 
rookery  the  clifts  break  down  in  a  long  concave  sloi)e  strewn  with  angular  bowlders. 
Hack  of  this  are  sand  dunes,  and  the  wash  from  them  has  produced  at  the  loot  of 
the  slope  a  broad  sand  flat, just  above  the  bowlder  beach. 

This  sand  tract  of  Tolstoi  has  a  denser  population  than  is  to  be  found  on  any  other 
rookery  groui\d  on  the  island.  In  the  height  of  the  season  the  crowded  area  is  the 
scene  of  constant  ligntiug  among  the  bulls  because  of  the  crowding  of  the  harems. 
The  breeding  mass  extends  i)art  way  up  the  slope,  and  in  the  latt-r  pf;it  of  the  season 
the  seals  move  back  from  the  sandy  Hat,  leaving  it  bare. 

At  the  back  of  the  slope  among  the  sand  dunes  is  a  hauling  ground  for  the 
bachelors.  To  reach  it  they  must  encircle  the  end  of  the  rookery.  A  more  important 
hauling  ground  is  situated  on  the  sand  <»f  Knglish  Day,  just  beyond  the  rookery. 
Halfway  along  the  curve  of  the  bay  is  another  hauling  ground,  known  as  Middle  Hill, 
which  is  removed  from  any  rookery  ami  is  i)robably  more  or  less  common  to  all  the 
breeding  gr<»unds  about  English  liay. 

On  the  whole  Tolstoi  is  the  most  interesting  of  the  rookeries,  and  oilers  the 
greatest  diversity  of  conditions  of  life.  It  is  also  famous  for  the  great  mortajity 
among  the  young  pups  born  there.  The  view  of  the  rookery  from  the  sand  dunes 
to  the  eastward  is  exceedingly  i)icturesque. 

13.  Zapiithii  (ii'csterhi). — This  rookery,  begins  at  the  rocky  cliffs  of  Zapadni 
headland  ami  extemls  along  the  convex  shore  to  the  sand  beach  of  Southwest  ]>ay. 
It  occupies  the  usual  bowlder  beach  and  extends  back  along  the  gradually  sloping 
upland.  The  seals  are  in  many  jdaces  massed  in  shallow  depressions  and  gullies 
which  seam  the  rocky  slo|»e.  in  these  places,  as  on  the  sand  Hat  of  Tolstoi,  many 
pups  are  killed.  At  dili'ureiit  places  in  the  course  of  the  rookery  are  runways  through 
which  the  bachelors  haul  out  to  their  grounds  in  the  rear.  The  principal  hauling 
grouiul,  however,  is  it  the  angle  of  the  rookery  with  the  sand  beach  of  Southwest  Bay. 

11.  Little  Zapailii, — The  sainl  beiMih  of  Southwest  Bay  intervenes  between  this 
rookery  and  Zapadni  proper.     It  occupies  a  similar  but  smaller  convex  beach  and 


t 


I 


i 


^ 


'I'HK    KOOKEBIES    OF   ST.    GEORGE. 


41 


liillslopc  toward  tlic  east.  The  siuftice  of  this  little  rookery  is  iiigs:e(l  iind  broken  in 
the  extreme,  iiiiikiiiy  it  iiii  iileal  breeding  yrouiid.  At  its  (^astern  end  is  tiie  single 
liiiuling  ground,  readied  through  tiie  open  space  that  lies  between  this  and  the 
narrow  breeding  ground  which  occupies  the  reef  beyond. 

15.  Z(ip<tdHi  Hit/. — Tiiis  rookery  lies  on  a  reef  of  bowlders  similar  to  that  occupied 
by  Lagoon  rookery.  The  harems  are  grouped  ill  scattered  patches  along  the  narrow, 
rocky  beach.  At  the  end  of  the  reef  is  a  large  hauling  ground  which  is  also  more  or 
less  common  to  the  younger  bachelors  from  the  three  /a|)adni  rookeries.  Here  the 
sand  beach  of  English  ]Jay  begins,  which  stretches  around  to  Tolstoi  rookery. 

These  three  breeding  grounds  were  originally  one,  but  the  decrease  of  the  herd 
has  so  separated  them  as  to  make  it  advisable  to  give  them  distinct  names.  Their 
combined  herd  is  next  in  size  to  that  of  Ueef  Peninsula,  having  about  ()0,0()0  seals  of 
all  classes. 

At  a  considerable  distance  above  Zapadni  headland  is  an  isolatisd  hauling  ground 
for  the  older  bachelors  and  half  bulls,  known  as  Southwest  Point,  A  few  still  haul 
out  there,  and  a  hair-seal  rookery  is  situated  on  an  islet  oftshore.  The  place  probably 
never  contained  a  breeding  rookery. 

Id,  Marunichen  {personal  name). — This  is  an  abandoned  rookery  ground  on  North 
Shore.  It  was  never  an  imi)ortant  rookery,  and  has  long  been  deserted.  The  oldest 
inhabitant  of  the  village  of  St.  Paul  simply  remendiers  hearing  it  8])oken  of  wlien  he 
was  a  boy.  No  cause  was  assigned  for  its  abandonment.  A  herd  of  hair  seals  haul 
out  in  the  neighborhood  of  this  old  rookery. 

THE  .ST.   OEOUGE  ROOKERIES. 

The  rookeries  of  St.  (leorge  are  live  in  number.  They  are  smaller  and  leas 
important  than  those  of  St.  Paul,  eontaining  only  about  one-sixth  of  the  total  number 
of  seals  on  the  two  islands.  On  account  of  the  rugged  character  of  the  coast  line  of 
St.  (leorge  its  rookery  spa(!e  is  limited  and  the  conditions  less  varied.  Tiie  harems  lie 
chietly  along  broken  clilfs,  on  basaltic  columns,  and  bowlder-strewn  slopes.  Fcmr  of 
the  rookeries  are  grouped  on  the  northern  face  of  the  island,  while  the  fifth  lies 
isolated  on  the  soutiiwestern  corner.  I!egiiiniiig  with  this  last  rookery,  tiie  following 
is  a  hv'u'f  account  of  the  breeding  gnmnds  of  St.  George  Island: 

J.  XajKulni  (iCiHtcrly).— This  rookery  lies  along  the  rocky  beach  of  Zapadni  JJay, 
ascending  the  slope  of  the  long  hill  where  the  harems  are  located  on  Hat  benches  of 
rock.  A  part  of  the  beach  line  lies  at  the  foot  of  the  dilf  formed  by  the  breaking  off 
of  the  hill.  In  the  rear  of  the  lower  or  beach  portion  is  the  hauling  ground  of  the 
rookery,  reached  by  two  breaks  in  the  mass  of  breeding  seals  and  extending  inland 
some  distance. 

i'.  Ntaraija  Artel  {old  ///(/W).— This  is  a  very  picturesque  rookery,  lying  in  a  narrow 
belt  along  the  steep  slope  of  a  hill  which  breaks  off.  in  an  abrupt  dilf  on  the  seaward 
side.  The  beacrh  at  the  loot  of  the  rookery  is  a  limited  one,  and  the  lower  havems  are 
situated  on  shelf-like,  ioeky  projections  which  gradually  shade  into  the  even  surface  of 
the  hill  slope,  on  which  the  harems  are  closely  massed.  The  hauling  ground  of  the 
rookery  lies  in  the  hollow  formed  by  the  inward  sweei*  of  tiie  hill.  In  the  hollow  is  a 
snuvU  pond,  once  a  lagoon,  which  the  reef  like  beach  has  cut  off.  Over  this  beach  the 
bachelors  haul  out  and  lie  on  the  bank  of  the  pond. 


il 


42 


THE    FUR   SEALS   OF   THE    PKIBILOP    I8LANDH. 


3.  North  {Rimian,  8creni()ye).—T\m  is  the  largest  of  the  rookeries  of  St.  George. 
It  is  located  iiboiit  midway  between  Staraya  Artel  and  the  vilhige  of  St.  George.  The 
rookery  is  the  nearest  one  to  tlie  village,  and  therefore  well  adapted  for  observation. 
It  lies  throughout  the  greater  part  of  its  length  on  the  narrow  beach  at  the  foot  of 
perpendicular  cliffs.  Through  occasional  slides  or  breaks  in  the  cliff  wall  the  harems 
draw  back  to  the  hill  slope  behind.  The  bachelors  have  runways  at  both  ends  of  the 
rookery  a-iid  occupy  the  flat  ground  above  and  behind  the  cliff's. 

1.  Little  AV,s^— This  is  a  rather  small  collectioa  of  harems  located  on  the  broken 
slope  formed  by  the  breaking  down  of  the  cliffs,  which  from  the  village  landing 
eastward  to  this  point  rise  perpendicularly.  From  this  point  the  cliff  curves  inland 
in  a  gradual  slope,  to  appear  again  beyond  east  rookery  at  the  eastern  angle  of  the 
island.  The  small  hauling  ground  of  the  rookery  is  located  at  the  eastern  end.  Little 
East  rookery  resembles  Little  Poloviua  rookery  of  St.  Paul  Island  both  in  size  and  in 
its  relation  to  the  larger  rookery  of  which  it  is  a  branch. 

-7.  Emt.— From  Little  East  rookery  for  a  considerable  distance  to  the  eastward 
the  beach  is  low,  and  behind  it  lies  a  level  plain  covered  with  seal  grass,  and  evidently 
once  hauled  over  by  bachelors  from  both  rookeries.  East  rookery  begins  in  a  long 
line  of  scattering  harems  occupying  the  rocky  beach.  At  the  angle  where  the  clifls 
resume,  the  harems  are  massed  together  on  the  slope  ami  along  the  narrow  bowlder 
beach  until  cut  off'  by  the  breaking  out  of  the  cliff. 

The  hauling  ground  of  East  rookery  is  in  tlie  rear  of  the  first  beach  portion,  and 
is  reached  by  several  breaks  in  the  line  of  harems.  Along  the  beach  portion  of  East 
rookery  the  sea  lions  also  ,<aul  out  and  lie  among  the  lur  seals,  and  at  the  point  is  a 
small  rookery  located  among  the  fur-seal  harems.  A  larger  and  more  important  sea- 
lion  rookery  is  loc.ited  on  the  southern  side  of  St.  George  Island  toward  Garden  Cove. 


IS 


f      \ 


V 


YOUNQ  MALE  SEA  LION. 
Diuvvn  fiiiiii  nature  lij  Hiistow  Ailuiiis. 


C'lIAPTKU    IV. 

THE  FUR  SEAL  OR  "SEA  BEAR  " 

ITS  RELATIVES. 

The  fur  seals,  with  their  associates,  tlie  walruses  and  sea  lions,  constituting  the 
suborder  Gressijjrada*  (Allen),  are  obviously  related  to  tlie  bc'ars.  Tiie  animals 
comprising  this  Rrouj),  among  other  characters,  have  jtliintigiade  feet,  the  anierior 
limbs  modified  as  oars,  and  with  rudimentary  claws,  if  any.  The  posterior  limbs 
bend  forward  at  the  knee  and  the  long,  webbed  toes  extend  beyond  the  (ilaws.  Only 
the  anterior  limbs  are  used  iu  swimming.  The  head  and  neck  ca'i  be  elevated  as 
in  the  bear,  and  the  external  ear  is  moderately  developed.  The  aniinal  can  run  or 
lope  along  the  grouiul  as  do  ordinary  nuimmals,  and  with  c(»nsiderable  rapidity. 

THE  SEA  BEAR  AND  TRUE  SSAL. 

iSruch  misconception  as  to  the  nature  and  habits  of  the  fur  seals  lias  aiisen  from 
their  sui»posed  resemblance  to  the  animals  in  the  North  Atlanti(!  and  elsewhere, 
called  "seals."  The  fur  seal,  however,  has  no  close  atlinity  with  the  suborder 
rinnipedia,  to  which  the  true  or  earless  seals  belong.  The  various  forms  of  true  or 
hair  seals  constituting  the  group  IMunipedia  have  the  feet  not  truly  ])lantigrade,  short, 
with  long  claws.  Only  the  posterior  limbs  are  used  in  swimming,  and  these  ar<^  not 
susceptible  of  bending  forward  at  the  knee.  The  animal,  therefore,  can  not  walk  or 
lope  at  all,  and  only  wriggles  while  on  land.  Its  neck  is  short  and  it  can  scarcely 
raise  its  head.    It  has  no  external  ear. 

The  internal  structures  of  the  animals  show  eipially  marked  differences.  The  hair 
seals,  whatever  their  origin,  nuist  come  from  a  different  parent  stock,  aiul  their 
relation  to  land  caruivora  is  more  remote.  Beyond  the  fact  that  both  fur  seal  and  hair 
seal  are  carnivorous  nuimmals,  feeding  on  fish  and  adapted  for  life  in  the  water,  the 
two  types  have  little  in  common.  In  both  species  the  thick  blubber  under  t\w.  skin 
goes  with  the  life  in  cold  water.  The  resemblances  associated  with  aipiatit!  habitat  are 
only  analogies  and  have  no  value  in  scientific  classiticiation.  In  structure,  appearance, 
habits,  disposition,  and  method  of  locomotion,  they  are  entirely  distinct,  and  their 
evolution  as  pelagic  animals  has  been  along  separate  lines. 

THE  FUR  SEALS  OF  THE  ANTARCTIC. 

The  fur  seals  of  the  world  belong  to  two  distinct  groups  or  genera,  closely  related 
to  the  sea  lions.  One  of  these,  the  genus  Arctocephalm,  is  widely  distributed  over  the 
Antarctic  oceans,  where  its  members  formerly  existed  in  vast  numbers  along  portions 
of  the  coasts  of  South  America,  S(»uth  Africa,  Australia,  and  New  Zealand,  as  well 


•Called  Remipedia  in  our  pri'liiuiiu-vry  report,  piijjr  12,  l>iit  tlit: 
incliiiloB  tlie  sanw,  forms. 


uaiiio  <lrvniiiyrti<Ui  in  riirlii^r  and 
43 


44 


Tllli    FUR   SEALS   OF   THE   PBIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


iis  many  of  tlie  pelagic,  islands  of  tiio  Antarctic  regions.*  I'urhapH  the  most  nortlicrn 
extent  ot  this  genus  is  the  herd  \vhi(;li  formerly  existed  in  considerable  numbers  on 
Guadalupe  Island,  and  other  islands  in  its  vicinity,  where  a  remuaut  probably  still 
breed  hidden  in  the  eaves  and  recesses  of  their  shores. 

THE  FUR  SEALS  OF  THE  NORTH  PACIFIC. 

The  fur  seals  of  the  North  Pacific  belong  to  the  second  group,  the  genus  Valli) 
rhinuH.  It  is  resident  u|)on  certain  barren  and  rocky  islands  in  Bering  Sea  and  the 
tSea  of  Okhotslx,  unknown  to  aboriginal  man,  and,  so  fur  as  we  are  aware,  never 
visited  by  man  before  the  discovery  of  the  Komaudorski  Islands  by  Vitus  Ik^ring  in 
1741  and  the  Tribilof  Islands  by  (■era.ssim  I'ribilof  in  1780.  In  addition  to  the 
Komaudorski  and  Pribilof  islands,  seals  of  the  genus  CaUorhinus  also  occupy  certain 
islands  of  tlu;  Kuril  grouj),  and  also  the  rocky  islet  known  as  liobben  lieef,  oil'  the 
coast  of  Saghaliu. 

STELLER'S  ACCOUNT. 

Our  first  knowledge  of  the  fur  seals  of  th«j  North  (!omes  from  the  account  of  Georg 
Wilhelm  Stelier  (1709-1745),  a  Gerunm  naturalist,  who  accompanied  Bering  on  the 
voyage  which  resulted  in  the  discovery  of  the  Komaudorski  Islands.  During  the 
winter  which  the  survivors  of  the  ill  fated  iS7.  /V7c>- spent  on  Bering  Island,  Steller 
visited  the  south,  or  I'oludinnoye  rookery  of  this  islaiul  and  wrote  an  a(!countt  of  the 
fur  seals  or  "sea  bears''  as  he  called  them. 

On  ^teller's  description  of  the  "sea  bear"  (rr«««  marinus)  of  Bering  Island, 
Linna>us  based  his  description  of  I'lioca  imhut,  or  the  bear-like  seal.  From  the 
Linna'an  nauie  the  fur  seal  of  the  North  Pacific  came  to  be  called  Vallorhinus  nrsiiiUH, 
the  typ»!  tif  the  species  being  the  Komandorski  herd. 

THE  THREE  HERDS. 

The  fur  .seals  of  the  North  Pacific  (!omi)rise  three  distinct  herds,  which  do  not 
intermingle  in  any  way,  having  distinct  breeding  grounds,  feeding  grounds,  and 
routes  of  migration. 

THE  PRIBILOF  HERD. 

The  most  important  of  the  three  herds  is  that  which  resorts  to  the  Pribilof  Islands. 
The.se  breed  upon  the  islands  of  Ht.  Pi.'-ii  and  St.  George  during  the  summer,  and  in 
winter  i)as8  down  through  the  channels  of  the  Aleutian  Islands  into  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
in  their  migrations  reaching  as  far  south  as  the  coast  of  southern  California  and 
returning  along  the  west  coast  of  North  America. 

THE  KOMANDORSKI  HERD. 

The  next  herd  in  importance  is  that  resorting  to  the  Komandor.ski  Islands.  These 
breed  upon  the  islands  of  Bering  and  IMedni,  passing  in  winter  down  along  the  eastern 
coast  of  Japan  and  returning  by  the  same  route. 


*  A  full  jicfoiiiit  of  tlio  Biiutlieni  fur  bcjiIh  will  bo  found  in  I'art  III  of  this  report. 
t  A  traiiHlatiou  of  .Stoller'.s  iiccoiint  will  be  found  in  I'art  III  of  tliis  report. 


TIIK    Sl'IISPKCIKS   OF    KUli   SKAI,. 


tf) 


THE  ROBBEN  ISLAND  HERD. 


i 


Tliu  third  litml  is  resiihtnt  in  Mu;  Hoiv  of  Okiiotsk  on  lkol)lu'ii  Islaiitl,  wlitMc  a 
coiisidunibli^  ruiiiiiaiit  still  (^\ists,  aiul  t'ornu'rly  u<-(Mi|iu;d  othi-r  rookci  it's,  now  virtiiiiliy 
('\tiii<;t,  on  four  islands  of  the  Kuril  ;,M'on|> — Musir,  Uaikokt',  Sicdnoi,  and  Hroiij;iiton. 
The  migration  route  of  this  herd  lies  in  the  iuland  sea  of  .Itipan. 

THREE  DISTINCT  SPECIES. 

Th«  fact  that  the  seals  of  the  I'ribilof  herd  ditVer  from  tiiosc  of  the  Commander 
islands  in  color,  in  form,  and  in  eharaeter  of  the  fur  has  Ion;;  been  reuo^ni/ed.  These 
difl'erences,  thoup;h  slight,  are  permanent  and  eonsfant.  As  no  intermediate  forms 
arc  known,  and  as  the  life  courses  of  the  herds  are  wholly  disiinet,  apparently  no 
intermediate  forms  can  exist.  Wo  may  therefore  hold  that  the  herds  re|)resent 
distinct  species.  As  the  Konnindorski  seals  formed  the  type  of  (Udlorhlnus  timiiiun, 
the  Pribilof  seals  may  be  taken  to  represent  a  now  spoeics,  to  whi<;li  tli(«  nanu^ 
VnlloiUimm  nlaitmnuH  may  be  given,  and  tho  Uobben  Island  herd,  likewise  ditl'erent, 
may  be  called  CuUorhinuH  eurilcnuis. 

CALLORHINUS  ALASCANUS. 

The  description  of  this  new  species  or  subspecies  is  given  in  full  in  a  special  pajM'r 
which  appears  in  I'art  I II.  It  may  bo  noted  here  that  alitscaiius  may  be  known  by  tiic 
stouter,  broader  head,  by  the  thicker  neck,  by  the  prevalence  of  warm,  brown  shades 
in  the  coloration  of  the  females  aiul  the  young  nuiles,  by  the  more  silvery  color  of  the 
gray  pups,  which  have  the  whitish  i>atches  on  the  rump  less  than  in  iirsinus.  In 
general  it  shows  a  lack  of  sliarp contrast  between  the  coloration  of  the  sides  a!'d  l)elly. 
The  fur  is  of  superior  quality  and  exhibits  sutlicient  ditference  to  make  it  poss  ole  for 
the  dealers  handling  tiie  skins  to  distinguish  them  by  this  means  alone.  In  al',sr(uius 
the  claws  on  the  foretlipper  are  undeveloi)ed,  being  represented  by  pits  in  the  skin. 

CALLORHINUS  URSINUS. 

The  true  ursinus  has  a  slenderer  head  and  neck.  The  females  and  young  males 
are  sooty  rather  than  brown,  the  light  and  dark  shades  btlng  alike  for  the  most  part 
without  ochraceous  tints..  The  belly  is  usually  rather  sharply  paler  than  the  back, 
and  the  gray  pup  is  nuu-a  brownish  and  less  gray  than  in  the  Tribilof  animal,  having 
a  pale  patch  on  each  side  of  the  rump.  The  fore  feet  have  two  or  three  rudimentary 
claws. 

CALLORHINUS  CURILENSIS. 

The  seal  of  Eobben  Island  and  the  Ivurils,  ditt'ers  from  both  of  the  foregoing  in 
the  whitish  color  of  the  under  fur.  This  is  rusty  brown  in  ursiiins  and  altiscaniin.  It 
is  said  also  to  have  a  broader  head  than  ursinus  tiw^  <»  xliibit  other  differences  in 
the  (luality  of  the  furj  distinguishing  the  seals  of  lioLlttu  Island  from  either  of  the 
other  herds. 

In  the  following  discussion  our  attention  will  be  directed  chieHy  to  a  consideration 
of  the  Tribilof  Islands  seals.  In  Part  IVof  this  report  the  herds  of  the  Komandorski 
and  Kuril  islands  will  be  discussed  in  detail. 


40 


THE    FlJlt    SBALM   OF    THK    PRIHILOK    ISLANDS. 
THE  NOMENCLATURE  OF  THE  FUR  SEAL. 


Tlio  oct'Oiitricities  of  tlio  noineiicltttiiro  of  the  fur  souls  have  frequently  boeii 
iiot»Ml.  Attt'iitioii  is  licre  culled  to  the  matter  nioroly  to  avoid  coti'.iisioii.  It  is,  for 
example,  iiieoiijinioiis  that  a  "cow"  should  oocupy  a  place  in  a  "harem"' on  a 
"rookery"  and  bear  a  ";>np,"  which,  if  a  male,  should  be  known  for  the  first  four 
years  of  its  life  as  a  "bachelor"  and  afterwar<ls  as  a  "bull."  Moreover,  it  is  absurd 
that  this  anitnal,  whi(;h  is  in  reality  more  like  a  bear,  should  be  called  a  "seal,"  thus 
confounding^  it  with  a  distinctly  din'erent  animal.  But  these  names  are  all  so  closely 
idenlitied  with  the  animals  and  their  history  that  it  is  useless  to  attempt  to  change 
them,  and  «o  we  may  exi)ect  the  "sea  bears"  of  the  North  Pacific  to  continue  to 
produce  "seal  skins,"  wlii(!h,  tliout^h  origimilly  and  properly  taken  only  on  land,  will 
remain  the  jMotlnct  of  a  "tlshery." 

The  Uussian  names  "sikatch"  (grown  bull),  "polosikatch"  (half  bull),  "holostiak" 
(bachelor),  "matka"  (mother),  and  "kotik"  (pup)  are  in  common  use  among  the 
Aleuts  on  the  Pribilof  and  Komandorski  islands.  These  words  form  their  plui.ila 
in  i,  thus:  sikatchi,  holostiaki.  The  Aleut  names  "atagh"  or  "odakh"  (bull), 
"ennatha"  (cow),  •'  lakutha"  (pur)  are  now  used  mainly  by  the  native  children. 

THE  CATEGORIES  OF  SEALS. 
THE  MALE. 

The  male  fur  seal  or  bull  reaches  full  maturity  at  the  age  of  about  7  years. 
Tie  is  probably  sexually  mature  at  an  earlier  age,  but  does  not  possess  the  strength 
and  courage  necessary  to  win  and  hold  a  place  on  the  breeding  grotinds.  The  weight 
of  the  adult  bull  is  about  ;{.">0  to  4."»0  pounds.  A  typical  animal  measures  about  6  feet 
in  length,  has  a  girth  over  the  shoulders  of  about  4^  feet,  and  measures  nearly  0 
feet  from  tip  to  tip  of  the  outstretched  fore-Hippers.  In  color  the  adult  males  vary 
considerably,  the  general  shade  being  blackish  or  dark  brown,  with  longer  hairs 
or  bristles  of  yellowish  white.  These  are  especially  long  and  numerous  on  the 
thickened  back  of  the  neck,  forming  the  so  called  "  wig."  The  bulls  are  excessively 
fat  on  their  landing  in  the  s])ring,  but  grow  gradually  le.in  and  thin  during  the  season 
on  land,  never  tasting  food  or  leaving  their  posts  during  the  breeding  season.  Karly 
observers  made  use  of  the  appropriate  namoof  "beachmastor"  for  the  bull,  a  name 
which  deserves  to  be  retained  for  its  descriptive  (|ualitics. 

THK   FEMALE. 

The  female  fur  seal  or  cow  is  much  smaller  than  the  male.  When  fully  grown  she 
measures  about  4  feet  in  length,  has  a  girth  of  2i  feet  over  the  shoulders,  and  moasures 
4  feet  from  tip  to  tip  of  the  outstretched  forc-tlippers.  The  cow  has  a  soft,  smooth 
fur  of  varying  shades  of  grey,  the  younger  females  being  usually,  thou^'^h  not 
always,  silvery  white  nndorneath  the  throat.  The  cow  bears  her  first  offspring  at 
the  age  of  .5  years,  but  her  full  growth  is  not  attained  unt*'  a  year  or  two  later. 
Iler  average  weight  is  about  70  pounds.  The  name  "clap-match,"  used  by  early 
explorers  to  designate  the  female,  is  now  obsolete. 

THK  BACHELOR. 

The  young  male  or  bachelor  is  very  similar  to  the  female  in  color,  size,  and 
appearance  until  the  end  of  the  third  year.     In  this  year  his  skin  is  at  its  besi.    In 


.i»  ) 


A  "POD"   OF   PUPS  ON   LUKANIN   ROOKERY,  SAINT   PAUL  ISLAND. 


FUR  SEAL  PUP. 
l)rn\vn  friiiii  iiatuiv  liy  Hiistow  AiliiiiiH. 


i\f 


i 


HEAD  OF  FUR  SEAL  PUP. 
|irn\vn  froiM  miliirc  liy  liiist.nv  AiIiuiik. 


HEAD  OF  FEMALE  FUR  SEAL. 
Drawn  from  iiutiirc  hy  Uristow  Adums. 


HEAD  OF  A  TYPICAL  ROOKERY  BULL. 
Drawn  from  imtiire  hy  HristDW  AdaiiiH. 


1 


VI 


I 


A  TYPICAL  ROOKERY  BULL. 
Drawn  from  iiutiiri'  liy  BrNtiiw  Ailiiins. 


THK   MIGRATIONH   OP   THR    KUR   »EALS. 


47 


4 


V) 


f 


t 


> 


tliu  roiirtli  yuiii'  liJH  iiurk  bo^'iiis  t*>  tliickun  and  tlcvclop  tliu  "wi;;."    After  t\\v.  wi;;  lias 
appoarcd  tlio  8kiii  dupiuciatus  in  value,  until  in  the  adult  bull  it  lias  m>  value  as  tur. 

THE  IIAM'   III  I.L. 

In  the  tilth  uiid  sixth  years  the  yoitii;;  male  {rrows  r)i|ii*11y,  and  in  si/.e  and 
appearance  apiuo.viinates  the  ndnlt  hull,  but  laeks  IiIm  Hti'en;;tli  and  cuura<j:e.  lie 
is  then  known  as  a  "half  bull."  The  males  under  7  years  ot  aye  are  not  allowed  on 
the  rookeries,  thtmgli  they  han;;  about  the  rear  and  in  the  water  in  front  of  them. 
The  bachelors  are  forced  to  herd  by  themselves  in  separate  bauds  on  the  hauling 
grounds. 

THE  IDLE  BULL. 

In  addition  to  the  half  bulls  there  is  a  class  of  males  called  "idle"  or  "reserve" 
bulls.  These  are  in  no  way  ditl'erent  from  the  breeding  bulls,  but  on  account 
of  the  lateness  of  their  arrival,  the  unfavorableness  of  their  location,  or  because  of 
defeat  in  battle,  they  have  been  unsuccessful  in  securing  harems.  They  take  up  their 
places  in  the  rear  of  the  breeding  grounds,  or  as  near  to  them  as  they  can  get,  and 
there  they  tight  among  themselves,  watching  for  opportunities  to  invade  the  harems  of 
their  more  successful  rivals,  and  occasionally  forming  small  harems  by  capture.  Late 
in  the  season  the  idle  bulls  succeed  to  the  i)osts  vacated  by  the  departing  liarem 
masters  and  take  charge  of  the  late  arriving  cows  and  the  I'-year  olds. 

THE   VEA.ULINGS   AND  VIUttlNS. 

The  seals  of  1  year  old  of  both  sexes  are  known  as  yearlings.  There  is  no  marked 
ditlerence  between  the  males  and  females  at  this  age.  The  yearling  males  are  found 
in  the  latter  part  of  July  on  the  hauling  grounds  with  the  older  bachelors.  The 
females  come  late  to  the  islands  and  s])end  much  of  their  time  on  the  rookeries  among 
the  young  of  the  year.  They  do  not  associate  to  any  considerable  degree  with  their 
brothers  on  the  hauling  grounds.  The  females  of  li  years  old  are  known  as  "virgins," 
and  come  on  the  rookeries  late  in  July  and  early  in  August  to  be  served  by  the  bulls. 

THE   IMP. 

The  young  of  the  fur  seal  or  pup  is  black  in  color  at  birth,  8(»metinuis  with  a 
brownish  strip  under  the  throat  and  with  a  large  whitish  spot  in  the  axil.  Its  weight 
at  birth  is  about  11  pounds,  and  it  is  comparatively  helpless,  though  it  becomes  able 
to  care  for  itself  in  a  short  time.  Its  head  is  large  in  proportion  to  its  body  and 
l)r(»ves  a  serious  handicap  in  the  early  etibrts  of  the  animal  to  leant  to  swim,  an  art 
which  it  does  not  possess  at  birth.  When  the  pup  is  about  .'J  months  old  it  sheds  its 
black  coat  and  takes  on  a  new  one  of  gray.  By  this  time  it  has  learned  to  swim  well 
and  weighs  25  or  <'ili  pounds. 

THE  MIGRATION  OF  THE  SEALS. 
THEIR  SUMMER  MOVEMENTS. 

Ill  their  annual  movements  the  seals  of  all  classes  with  few,  if  any,  excejitlons  visit 
each  .season  the  islands  on  which  their  breeding  grounds  are  situated.  The  earliest 
arrivals  come  about  the  1st  of  May;  the  latest  to  depart  go  some  time  in  December. 


48 


TIIK    VVU   HEALS   OF   THK   PUIHII.OK   ISLANUM. 


Ill  tliu  iiitui'val  tliu  olllccis  of  roproiliu  tiiiii  urc.  iiccMMiiiiliHlied.  Tlio  I'einalcH  come  mid 
go  from  tlic  fuelling  groiiiiilH  at  intervals,  *  aiiiig  for  tlicit-  young.  Tlio  younger  maU-H 
s|)iMi(l  moHt  of  tiieir  time  resting  on  tliu  saiiil  liuai^iies,  visiting  the  sea  irregularly.  In 
November  tlie  females  anil  young  of  tlie  year  leave  tlic  islamic.  The  males,  especially 
tlie  bai^liolors,  remain  until  December  and  even  .lannary,  in  nuUi  huuhuum  probably  not 
all  leaving  the  vieiiiity  of  tiie  islands  during  the  winter. 

TUK  LIMIT   OF   MlllllATlON. 

The  adult  mules  and  the  older  baithclors  spend  the  winter  in  the  PaeiHe  Oeean, 
Homewhat  below  the  Aleutian  Islaiids,  and  eastward  in  the  (lulf  of  Alaska.  The 
younger  males  go  farther  south.  The  pups  probably  reach  the  latitude  of  Cajie  Flat- 
tery. The  adult  females  go  farthest  south,  being  found  as  low  down  as  the  Baiita 
liarbara  Channel,  oQ' southern  Calilbrnia. 

ITS  COCKSK  AND  DURATION. 

The  southward  trii»  of  the  seals  must  be  rapid  and  more  or  less  direct  to  the 
turning  point.  The  females  do  not  leave  the  islands  much  before  the  miiklle  ol 
>Jovember,  but  are  taken  in  the  latitude  of  southern  California  early  in  December.  On 
the  return  trip  the  movements  of  the  animals  are  slower,  the  remainder  of  the  winter 
andsiniiig  being  occupied  in  the  northward  journey  ahmgthe  coast,  which  they  follow 
at  a  considerable  distance  offshore.  In  December,  January,  and  February  they  are 
found  oft  the  coast  of  California.  They  are  in  the  neigliborhood  of  Cape  Flottery  and 
Vancouver  Island  in  March,  April,  and  May;  and  in  May  and  .lune  they  are  found 
in  the  Gulf  of  Alaska  and  along  the  southern  coast  of  the  Aleutian  Islands.  They 
reach  the  islands  at  various  dates  according  to  tliediflerent  classes  of  animals. 

In  this  outline  of  the  movements  of  the  seals  at  sea  only  the  general  course  of  the 
herd  as  a  whole  is  traced.  A  more  detailed  account  will  be  found  in  connection  vitli 
the  niigratiou  chart  prepared  by  Mr.  Townsend  and  published  in  Part  III  of  this 
rejiort.  In  Mr.  Lucas's  account  of  the  feeding  habits  of  the  animals,  also  in  Tart  III, 
the  movements  of  the  seals  ou  their  summer  feeding  grounds  are  more  iully  given. 


C  II  A  l*T  K  it    V. 

THE  DAILY  LIFE  OF  THE  ROOKERIES. 

THE  ARRIVAL  AT  THE  ISLANDS. 
THE  MALES. 

Tlio  iulnlt  nialos  arrive  (Irst  at  tli«  islaiulH  in  the  sprint;.  Their  appoaraiiro  is 
goveiiied  hirgely  l)y  the  iMoveiiiciits  oC  the  drift  ice,  whicii  packs  in  about  the  ishiiids 
late  in  winter  and  remains  until  tlie  latter  part  of  April,  sometimes  until  late  in  May.* 
In  18!K'i,  when  tiie  ice  remained  thus  hni;;  about  the  islands,  inakiuf;  the  lamlin^  of 
the  bulls  ditlicidt,  roads  were  cut  in  it,  through  which  the  aidumls  hauled  to  reach 
their  stations. 

THE   I)ATK  OF  THE  EARLIEST   ABUIVALS. 

The  average  date  of  the  laiuling  of  the  first  bulla,  as  shown  by  the  record  in  the 
lo^'  of  the  islands,  is  about  the  1st  of  May.  Instances  are  recorded  where  the  aid- 
mals  have  landed  on  the  ice  and  traveled  in  for  a  mile  or  more,  taking  up  their  places 
on  the  snow -covered  rookeries.  The  incoming  of  the  bulls  is  gradual.  They  appear 
almost  siuuiltaneously  on  all  the  rt>okerie8,  each  being  represented  by  one  or  two.t 
The  number  increases,  slowly  during  the  early  part  of  May,  rapidly  in  the  latter  part. 
Hy  the  middle  of  June,  practically  all  of  the  regular  harem  bulls  are  located  in  their 
places  on  the  breeding  ground.  During  the  season  of  1897  a  count  of  bulls  on  Xorth 
rookery  of  St.  (leorge,  .June  7,  gave  180,  where  19(i  harems  were  found  later  in  the 
season.  On  Kitovi  rookery  of  St.  Paul,  a  count  of  bulls  made  on  t'je  Ilith  of  -lune 
gave  150,  where  IS'2  harems  existed  in  1890,  and  179  later  in  the  season  of  1897.J: 

THE  OLDEST  COME  FIRST. 

It  is  probable  that  the  earliest  bulls  t<t  arrive  re[»resent  the  veterans  of  niuny 
seasons,  and  that  those  arriving  subsequently  come  in  the  order  of  their  ages.  Thus 
the  young  half  bulls  aiul  the  idle  bulls  as  a  class  do  not  locate  about  the  rookeries 
until  the  time  of  landing  of  the  cows.  They  then  haul  out  around  tlie  rookeries  to 
places  in  the  rear,  or  light  their  way  through  the  territory  of  bulls  already  in  plaiic. 
Some  of  them  are  doubtless  sncce.ssful  in  displacing  earlier  arrivals,  or  in  gaining 
advantageous  jtlaces  on  the  breeding  grounds.  The  young  bulls  for  the  most  part 
in  the  beginning  of  the  season  hang  about  the  water  front  and  try  to  intercept  the 
landing  cows.  It  is  only  after  the  breeding  season  is  well  advanced  that  tlicy  are 
seen  in  numbers  about  the  rear  of  the  rookeries,  and  even  then  they  come  and  go 
fi'om  the  water  more  or  less  regularly. 


*  Srr  fxtnictH  from  loj;  of  St.  I'mil,  Pt.  II,  iintlrr  dntc  <if  Miiy,  1895. 
t  St'u  extracts  from  log  of  8t.  I'aul,  Pt.  II,  May  of  uuy  seaHoti. 
(  Daily  .lonnial,  Pt.  II,  uiuk-r  date  uf  Juno  12. 


15184- 


49 


I 


50 


THE    FUlt    SEALS    Ol"    THE    PRIIJILOF    ISLANDS. 


THE   HAOHEI.OKS. 

Tlic  haclu'lor  seals  l»e},Mii  to  arriv«' ut  alMHit  the  saint>  tiiin-  as  tho  hulls.  Their 
first  iippcaraiite  about  St.  I'aul  is  usually  on  Sivuteh  Ifoek.  The  average  date  of  the 
llrst  reeorded  food  drives  is  about  the  liOtii  ot  May.*  This,  however,  is  not  the  date 
of  their  tirst  arrival,  but  th»!  one  at  which  the  animals  are  out  in  sutlieient  nuud)ers to 
make  a  drive  worth  wiiile. 

The  older  bachelors  eonie  tirst.  This  is  t^nwn  by  the  excess  of  older  seals  that 
are  turned  back  in  the  earlier  iliives,  ami  tbe  larger  pen-entage  of  killed  in  tV.e 
number  driven.  This  can  best  be  made  clear  by  citing  tiic  statistics  show'.ig  tiie 
animals  rejected,  large  and  small,  and  tlu^  average  per  cent  of  aninnils  killed,  for  the 
different  dates  during  the  seo'-.wn  of  i>r»7,  on  St.  Paul  Ishuid: 

Staiialirx  of  killiiitin.  si.  I'aiil,  /SIC. ' 


n«t<>. 


Juni!  15 
18. 

•it. 
'.'fi. 
:ui 
I 

2. 


Jiilv 


8 

8. 

». 
CJ. 
14. 
16. 
17. 
1». 
22. 
Xl 
24 
20 
27 
29. 
30 
31. 
Auk-    2. 


lii-iiM 

•Iwl. 

I'en'enl 

HBO 

nil'. 

.'^niiill. 

killnl. 

'..4 

110 

0.  er> 

la.i 

28 

.87 

.ISft 

184 

.48 

««! 

214 

.64 

no 

214 

.57 

218 

224 

.68 

107 

«<l 

.53 

2il» 

173 

.63 

.nil 

ilOO 

.07 

35.1 

■Al 

.05 

97 

115 

.68 

UU 

038 

..W 

210 

061 

.58 

391 

580 

.53 

l-O 

412 

00 

:i77 

1.174 

M 

.'NNI 

2. 1147 

.:14 

101 

«HK 

.21 

r.2 

1,380 

.Xl 

491 

890 

.27 

221 

545 

.20 

!«M 

1.114 

.16 

:m 

"()« 

.20 

IIK 

45(1 

.10 

iM 

1.440 

.19 

ISO 

376 

■» 

'  Tin.-*  rprord  of  rrji't'tt'il  niiiitiiils  w:i«.  fur  tin*  imwl  part.  kc('T  I'V  Mr 
rt'i)iiji-<Ml  hirt  [)r(*f<oiuM'  4-oiiMtat)lty  on  the  killiiii;  tiolil. 


.lohii  M.  Mortnn  whiwr  iliity  »>*  'I'n'Hiinry  nu»'nt 


From  this  table  it  is  apparent  tliat  among  the  rejected  animals  prii»r  to  .luiv'.t, 
those  too  large  for  killing  predominated.  The  large  percentage  of  animals  killed  for 
the  total  number  driven  shows  that  the  greater  proportion  of  the  seals  on  rlie  hauling 
grounds  at  tliia  time  were  of  killable  age.  After  .July  0  the  smaller  seais  began  to 
predominate,  sliowing  the  advent  of  the  2  year  oldB  and  yearlings.  About  the  same 
relative  number  of  animals  were  kille<l  in  tin  ater  «lrives,  but  owing  to  the  increa.se 
of  little  seals,  the  percentage  steadily  diminiHued  rroui  a  maximum  of  <)8  per  cent  to  a 
minimum  of  L"»  per  cent. 

THE    HE(UNNIN(;    OF   THl.   SEAi,INO   SEASON. 

It  is  not  until  the  Ist  of  June  that  the  regular  driving  for  the  (piota  iiegins.  At 
this  time  the  .'t  year-old  seals,  from  which  the  skins  for  the  (pinta  as  ;i  rule  are  taken, 


Ld^  of  St.  rniil,  I't.  IL  May  ni  luiy  Hcasim. 


i 


ARRIVAL   OF   THE    FUR    SEALS. 


m 


begin  to  arrive  us  a  «-laHH.  About  the  iniddlt^  of  July  the  L'year-old  seals  bej^iu  to 
roiiie  ill  iiiiinbers,  foliowetl  very  soon  by  the  yearlings,  which  swarm  in  large  niiiiibers 
on  tlie  hauling  grounds  during  the  latter  part  of  Julj'.  As  the  breeding  season 
advaiu'cs  the  young  half  l)nlls.  whicii  throng  tlie  earlier  drives,  withdraw  from  the 
hauling  grounds  to  the  water  front  of  the  rookeries  or  take  up  places  in  their  rear. 

The  arrival  of  the  younger  males  in  the  latter  jtart  of  July  makes  it  advisable  that 
the  (iiiving  for  the  (piota  should  be  eompleted  as  early  in  this  month  as  possible,  tii 
the  early  days  of  Ainerioan  control,  when  the  seals  were  numerous,  the  quota  was,  as 
a  rule,  tilled  before  the  2t»th  of  .liily, 

TIIK    ARRIVAL   OF   TIIK    ("OWS. 

It  is  about  the  10th  of  .luiie  that  the  adult  cows  begin  to  arrive.*  Their  appear- 
ance, like  that  of  the  adult  buHs,  is  very  gradual.  In  1897  a  cow  appeared  on  lOast 
rookery  on  .luiie  ;?;  a  second  cow  joine<l  her  on  the  7th;  no  others  had  arrived  on 
the  10th.  On  St.  Paul,  the  tirst  <'ow  arrived  on  the  10th;  a  second  ap]>eared  on  the 
I'Jth,  and  after  this  date  a  few  could  be  found  at  almost  every  jmint  wh"re  harems 
were  located  the  previous  season.  So  (juietly  did  the  cows  come  in  and  take  their 
lilaccs  that,  though  the  rookeries  of  St.  Paul  were  kept  under  the  ch)sest  scrutiny,  and 
many  new  cows  were  iuund  at  each  inspection,  it  was  more  than  a  week  before  the 
landing  of  a  single  cow  could  be  noted. 

THEIR    INCOMING   (JRAOrAL. 

This  i|uiet  and  gradual  iiicoining  of  the  cows  can  best  be  illustrati'd  by  the  reciud 
of  the  daily  count  on  Lukanin  rookery: 

l.nknnin  rmtker;/,  tSn7. 


Data. 


June  12. 
i;i. 
U. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
I». 
•JO. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 

2.'!. 

26. 

27. 


CnWH      ! 

pri'HHiil.  i 

1     I 

1 

.'I 

r>   ' 

II    ! 
ig 

ri7 

.'i2 
74 

lii:i 
l:il 
176 
207 


♦ 


Thus,  though  cows  began  to  arrive  on  this  rookery  on  the  iL'tli  of  June,  by  the 
li7th  of  June  there  was  on  the  half  mile  of  its  shore  front  no  more  than  lir»7  cows.  At 
this  date  few,  if  any,  had  begun  to  go  to  sea.  When  we  contrast  this  number  with 
the  total  of  abiuit  3',0(M>  cows  which  visited  the  rookery  during  the  seascui,  we  get  some 
idea  of  the  gradual  arrival  of  the  breeding  leiiiale.s.  These  figures  must  also  correct 
tile  long  current  notion  tliat  tlicy  come  in  a  body  or  in  a  succession  of  great  waves. 

•  I'm- (leliiilN  <>r  till'  laiiiliiitr  of  tlio  town  licro  (Itmcribeil,  ri'lertnicn  .slioiilil  l>o  nimlf  to  th«  Daily 
.loiimal  in  I't.  II.  iitidor  ilitti'  of  ,lniio  12,  1S!I7,  ami  followiii);. 


ir 


52 


I'HE    KUU    SEAI.8   OF   TlIK    I'KIlULOi    ISLANDS. 


It  is  ])rol)iib](!  that  with  the  cows,  us  with  the  biilln,  tlie  date  of  landiii};  is  intliuMiriMl 
by  age,  tlie  ohlest  coming  first.  The  fact  that  the  yoniig  cows  are  first  iiiiprcgiiiitcil 
early  in  August,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  pups  are  born  as  early  as  the  10th  of  June, 
shows  that  there  must  be  a  gradual  recession  of  the  date  of  delivery,  which  may 
reasonably  be  supposed  to  correspond  to  the  increasing  age  of  the  breeding  animals 
themselves. 

TIIEIU  ARRIVAL  NOT  THE  OCCASION  OF  l'"I(}HTIN(J. 

The  observations  of  the  season  «>f  1897  ninst  also  correct  the  tradition  that  the 
first  aiipeaiance  of  the  cows  is  the  signal  for  a  general  battle  among  the  bulls  for  their 
possession.  Nothing  could  be  further  from  the  truth.  There  was  in  18!»7  no  general 
disturbance  at  this  time  nor  during  the  month  of  June.  No  general  recognition  of 
the  arrival  of  the  cows  was  made  by  the  bulls.  The  landing  female  reconnoitered  the 
shore,  swimming  backward  and  forward  until  she  was  satisfied  of  the  location,  and 
then  landed  on  the  rocks,  being  taken  in  charge  by  the  nearest  bull.  If  the  bull 
discovered  the  landing  cow  and  attempted  to  secure  her,  she  escaped  to  the  water  if 
she  could:  if  not,  she  submitted  to  the  inovita})le,  and  took  up  her  place  beside  him. 
Sometimes  Ihe  escajung  cow  was  overtaken  by  the  bull  anil  carried  back.  If  the  cow 
escaped,  she  usually  returned  to  the  same  place,  aiul  in  time  was  located  there. 

THE  MANNER   OF   LANDINCJ. 

This  represented  the  method  of  the  earliest  arrival.-*.  The  choice  of  the  cow  was 
limited  to  the  jWace  of  landing.  When  a  bull  once  obtained  a  cow,  his  harem  became 
the  objective  p»»int  for  all  cows  landing  in  its  vicinity.  The  landing  cow  came  in 
quietly  and  took  her  place  among  the  others,  in  most  cases  without  even  the  knowle«lge 
of  the  bull  whose  circle  she  joined.  When  he  became  aware  of  her  presence,  he  gave 
her  a  cordial  weh^ome,  taking  occasion  to  round  up  his  harem  and  to  show  the  new 
arrival  marked  attention.  As  a  result  of  this  desire  of  the  cow  to  join  the  crowd, 
it  hap])ened  that  large  harems  were  formed  at  favorite  landing  places  which  grew 
constantly  in  numbers,  though  the  shore  front  on  either  side  remained  for  the  time 
being  entirely  wanting  in  (!ows.  On  all  the  massed  rookery  portions  this  became  the 
regular  method  of  development. 

MASSED  ROOKERY   FORMATION. 

The  large  mass  of  breeding  seals  on  Tolstoi  sand  flat*  was  originsUly  a  single 
harem,  which  in  the  course  of  time  numb;>red  upwards  of  a  hundred  cows  in  charge  of 
a  single  bull.  Ho  loiig  as  the  cows  lay  quietly  resting  before  and  after  the  birth  of 
their  pujts  the  single  bull  was  able  to  control  them  all.  Hut  in  time  the  task  l>e(ranu'. 
too  great,  and  when  the  cows  began  to  come  in  heat  in  numijers,  he  soon  lost  control 
of  them.  The  idle  bulls  about  him  entered  the  circle.  He  was  umtble  to  exclude 
them,  and  in  time  a  large  nund)er  of  bulls  controlled  the  mass  in  common,  apparently 
without  clearly  defined  harems.  With  the  podding  and  scattering  <»f  the  pups  and 
the  influx  of  new  c(»ws,  the  seals  became  spread  out  over  largei-  areas,  and  new  bulls 
were  taken  into  tlie  circle  until  the  farthest  limit  of  expansion  was  reached. 

What  was  true  for  Tolsfoi  was  true  also  for  the  great  breeding  masses  on  the 
other  large  rookeries.     Under  Hutchinson  Mill,  the  great  mass  occupying  this  space 


•r 


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'  Sue  })latc  (ipi><i8it«  ]i.  40, 


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THE   HFIOIIT   OF   THE   flKASON. 


r.3 


was,  on  .TuiiC!  "JS,  ropresttiitoil  by  four  of  tliesu  iiioiiHtt'^r  liiir<Miis  loi-atKil  at  iiitriViils 
aloiiK  tlie  slioic  and  projectinf;  but  slifjlitly  liliovo  Hie  bowlder  l»ca«!li.  They  wtTe  tboii 
oil  the  point  of  bruukiii);,  and  iilr«>ady  aroniid  th(>ed;;es  were  niinilnTHof  small  liareiiiH 
of  one  or  two  <;ows  wliicli  had  phunly  been  stolen  from  the  lai'tfcr  mass.  In  the 
coni'se  of  a  few  thvys  thereafter  the  disinte^^ration  of  these  abnormal  harems  be^iin,  and 
they  beeame  broken  up  into  nnmeroiis  smaller  families  untler  hitherto  idle  bulls.  Tiie 
seals  later  became  spread  back  over  the  entire  flat.  A  similar  course  <if  development 
market!  the  fcu'uiation  of  all  the  large  masses  on  lU'ri'  rookery. 

Where  the  rookeries o(!Cupied  the  narrow  bowlder  beach,  as  on  Kitovi  and  Lukanin, 
Lagoon  or  (iorbaieh,  the  distribution  of  the  harems  waH  more  regular,  and  when  the 
period  of  scattering  and  fusion  came,  they  were  united  in  a  more  or  less  even  band 
throughout  the  entire  length  of  the  rookery. 

DAILY   ROOKERY   roiNTS. 

With  a  view  of  determining  the  relative  condition  (»f  the  rookeries  from  <lay  to 
day,  daily  counts  were  begun  on  Lukanin  and  Kilnvi  rookeries  with  the  Hist  arrival 
of  cows  and  were  kept  up  throughout  the  seastui,  or  from  June  1-'  to  .Inly  'M.  A  part  of 
the  record  of  these  counts  has  already  Ix'en  given  to  illustrate  the  an  i val  of  the  cow  s. 
The  full  record  will  be  found  in  Appendix  I.  Tiie  following  is  a  synopsis  of  the  count 
on  a  part  of  Kitovi  rookery  known  as  the  Amphitheater: 


Nyiiuptiii  iij'  Kilovi  rookvr.ii,  IS97. 


Diitf.  I 

Jiiiix  14 

21 

20 

2« 

.llllv      1 

■       B 

IJ 

20 

:ii 


t?IIWB 

pri'Hi'iit. 


u 

76 

IIIM 
24« 
4U)I 

420 

:i7r) 


THE  HEIGHT   (»!''  THK   SKASON. 

These  counts  show  that  the  population  of  breeiliiig  cows  graduidly  increases  from 
the  beginning  of  the  season,  about  June  10,  until  a  vlimax  is  reached  about  tiie  middle 
of  July.  It  then  decreases  until  at  the  close  of  the  breeding  season,  about  August  1, 
it  numbers  about  one-'''lf  the  maximum  population  present  at  any  one  time,  or  about 
(me  fourth  of  the  actual  rookery  population.  There  is  a  temporary  lluctuation  during 
the  tirst  ten  days  of  August,  while  the  virgin  2-year-old  cows  are  present  on  the 
rookeries.  For  the  rest  of  tlie  season  the  adult  population  remains  at  atioiit  the 
point  reached  at  the  end  of  July,  probably  varying  more  or  less  fnnu  day  to  day 
according  to  the  (tondition  of  the  weather. 

It  had  until  18U(»  been  currently  believed  that  at  the  period  known  as  the  "height 
of  the  season,"  say  frotn  .July  10  to  -0,  rookery  conditions  were  lixed  and  all  «»r  ]irac- 
tically  all  the  breeding  animals  present.  The  counting  of  ]>ups  in  August  in  IstMi  first 
dispelled  this  error,  by  showing  that  the  pups  outnumbered  two  to  one  the  breeding 
females  couuted  in  the  height  of  the  season. 


fii 


THE   FUR   HEALS   OF   TIIK    I'Hlllll.UF    ISLANDS. 


FLIOTI-ATIONS  OK   I'OIMLATION. 

The  daily  coiiiitM  of  th»  broediiiK  Hcasoii  of  1S07  iiuiy  hero  ngam  be  cited  to  ff'wt* 
ail  idt'uof  tlio  real  coiiditioii  of  the  rookt'iies  at  their  iiiaxiiiiiiiii.  Tint  following  ll^nires 
are  for  tliat  part  of  Kitovi  rookery  called  the  Amphitheater,  which  contained, 
accoi'dini;  to  the  count  of  pups  made  on  AiigiiHt  ii,  about  l,l.'4r)  breediiit;  females  for 
the  HCUHoii : 

Amphilhealtr  of  hiloei. 


D«t«. 


('own 
|iri'Hi'iil. 


■Inly  lu 


10   

MU 

11 

7ci:i 

12   

13   

6.M 

14  

5M 

15 

703 

ID  

87H 

17   

(KM 

18 

M8 

lU   

KM 

20 

41V 

Such  is  the  height  of  the  season.  The  actual  count  shows  a  difference  of  (1  per 
cent  between  its  beginning  and  its  niaximum  and  a  difference  of  3S  per  cent  between 
the  maximum  and  its  close,  while  between  two  individual  days  of  the  period  there  is 
us  great  a  difference  as  IM)  per  cent. 

INCBKASE  OF  FAMILIES. 

Nor  is  the  tinctuatioii  in  individuals  all  that  is  to  be  noted  in  this  consideration  of 
the  height  of  the  season.  The  following  count  of  harems  on  this  same  breeding; 
ground  shows  e(jually  important  results: 

.lnti)liilliealer  of  Kitovi,  1S97, 


Dull'.  Hamuli. 


.Tune  14 1 

no 3 

;io 10 

.Tilly     8 35 

13 10 

25 ri;i 


It  is  thus  apparent  that  during  this  time  of  sup]>osed  rookery  stability  the 
number  of  harems  underwent  quite  as  marked  a  change  as  did  the  number  of  indi- 
vidiiiil  iiiiimals  com])osing  them.  The  daily  observations  of  this  breeding  ground  and 
frequent  photo^-raphs  of  its  area  show,  moreover,  that  the  extent  of  ground  occupied 
grew  steadily  from  day  to  day. 


AVHAT  TIIK   IIKKJHT   OF  THK   SEASON   MEANS. 

What  the  height  of  the  breeding  season  reiilly  means,  therefore,  is  a  time  in 
rookery  developinent  when  the  stream  of  incoming  cows  about  equals  the  stream  of 
outgoing  ones.  It  is  the  time  when  the  greatest  number  of  cows  are  actually  present 
at  one  time,     it  marks  the  maximum  of  rookery  development,  which  probably  covers 


FKKDINd    OP'    THK    FUR    HKAI.S. 


66 


no  iii(ir»  tliaii  a  siii);le  <lay.  In  obHorviiiK  tin*  rookeries  tli<>  uyc  ran  not  ailjnst  itscIC 
reailily  to  tlic  *-liaii);(',  nixl  t\w  result  is  that  tbu  |ieriud  senilis  to  eomprelieiitl  several 
ilays. 

From  about  the  lOtli  or  iL'tb  of  .lime  oiiwani  new  eows  are  constantly  arriving 
on  the  rookeries.  About  ten  or  twelve  days  after  her  arrival  eaeh  eow  jjoes  away  to 
feed  tor  the  lirst  time.  The  first  arrivals  and  first  departures  tlierei'oie  run  roughly  in 
parallel  lines.  A  disturbing  element  is  brought  in  by  the  return  ot'eows  IVoiu  I'eediii;;' 
and  their  subsequent  departure  and  return  at  intervals.  All  tiiese  various  eNiiieiits 
result  ill  a  period  of  apjiarent  equilibriiiin  at  about  the  15th  of  July,  wliii'  is  the 
height  of  the  sea.soii. 

TIIK   PKRIOIt  Ol'RltKNTI.Y  MISt'NDKRSTOOl). 

That  this  period  of  rookery  development  should  have  been  misunderstood  is  not 
strange,  siuue  the  matter  was  never  before  tested  by  iiiatlii'inatical  standards. 
Kveiits  in  rookery  life,  though  reeurring  by  the  thousands,  are  dilTieult  of  observation. 
Their  very  multitude  distracts  the  observer.  In  the  summer  of  IH!»7,  at  the  inaxiinnm 
period  of  rookery  life,  when  thousivmls  of  pujis  were  being  born,  the  closest  observa- 
tions, extending  at  times  through  nine  hours  a  day,  failed  to  disclose  the  actual 
birth  of  more  than  a  dozen  pups.  I'lider  this  same  close  .scrutiny  it  was  a  week 
after  the  first  landing  of  cows  Itefore  one  could  be  discovered  in  the  act,  and  a  much 
longer  jjcrioil  elap.sed  before  the  departure  of  one  couhl  be  observed,  (ieneral 
observations  of  the  rookeries  have  therefore  only  relative  value  unless  they  are 
checked  by  figures.  They  can  be  trusted  to  show  large  results,  but  can  not  be  relied 
ujion  to  indicate  normal  changes.  To  get  definite  results,  exact  euiimerations  aud 
minute  ob.servations  are  necessary. 

THK   HIRTII   OK  THK   IT  P. 

Within  a  jieriod  of  from  six  to  forty-eight  hours  after  her  arrival  the  cow  gives 
birth  to  her  pup.  After  a  further  perioil  of  five  to  six  days  she  comes  in  heat  and  is 
served  by  the  bull.  Five  to  six  more  days  pass,  during  which  time  the  pup  grows 
rapidly  and  becomes  able  to  take  care  of  itself;  then  the  mother  goes  to  sea  to 
bathe  and  feed.  Her  first  return  is  possibly  within  three  or  four  days.  Of  her 
subseciuent  returns  no  record  has  been  possible,  but  from  the  gradual  decrease  in  the 
number  of  cows  present  after  the  height  of  the  season  is  reached,  it  must  be  inferred 
that  the  time  of  abseiK'e  lengthens  as  the  pu]>  grows  older  and  is  able  to  remain 
longer  witluuit  food.  As  the  (;ow  does  not  leave  the  harem  until  after  impregnation 
it  necessarily  follows  that  adult  «•  ,vs  whenever  found  at  sea  are  pregnant. 

THE  FKEIUNG   OF  TIIK   COWS. 

When  the  cows  first  enter  the  water  after  their  long  rest  on  the  shore  they  exhibit 
every  evidence  of  genuine  .satisfaction  and  pleasure.  They  do  not  at  once  swim  away, 
but  play  about,  rolling  over  and  over  in  the  water,  scrat(!hing  and  rubbing  themselves 
with  their  flippers,  getting  thoroughly  cleaned  from  the  filth  of  the  rookeries.  This 
done,  the  animals  swim  away  to  the  feeding  grounds. 

SWIMMINO  SEALS. 

During  the  breeding  season  a  band  of  sleeping,  playing,  or  swimming  .seals 
skirts  each  rookery  front.     Home  are  plainly  bachelors,  but  most  are  cows.     This 


56 


THK    VVn    8KAJ<H    OK    THE    PRIBILOK    ISLANDS. 


I 


bi»ii(l  of  seiils  evidently  repnvwiits  rhe  aiiiiiiiiis  pr(ii)iiriiifi  to  (U>]>!irr  and  tliose  just 
arriviiiji.  >io  on«  ever  sees  h  seul  landiar  dirt'(itly  from  The  sea;  and  one  seldom  sees 
a  seal  leave  the  rookery  to  ^o  direetly  (hc  to  H«a,  tlionuii  at  a  distauee  from  land,  as 
on  our  trips  to  Otter  Island,  numbers  oi  rjie  animals  wen— et-n  uoin;,' rapidly  ont  to  sea 
and  coming  in  in  the  same  direct  inauiier.  The  incoiiiiii<;  seal  donhtless  (juii'tly 
Joins  the  outer  edge  of  the  group  of  swimming  seals.  i»«^'oming  one  of  them  in  their 
motions  and  i)astimes,  gradually  working  to  niie  shore  wiien  ready  to  go  on  the  rookery. 
The  departing  seal,  in  like  manner,  evidently  takes  its  jilace  anumg  the  swimnung 
seals  and  when  ready  slips  away  from  them  on  th«'  (»uter  side. 

The  tendency  on  the  jtart  of  the  seal  on  first  going  into  the  water  to  loiter  and 
enjoy  a  bath  aeeounts  for  the  delay  of  the  de])arting  seals;  Itnt  in  ease  of  the  arriving 
seal  something  more  defiiute  must  keep  the  tired  animal,  eager  for  iier  hungry  pup, 
from  landing  at  once.  The  reas<ui  for  this  seems  to  lie  in  the  feeding  habits  of  the 
aninuiis.  The  bachcUtrs,  as  has  long  iieen  noted,  are  iu»ver  found  with  food  in  their 
stomachs,  whetiier  taken  on  first  iandinu  in  tlu^  spring  or  later  in  the  season.  It  has 
been  erroneously  supposed  on  this  aecomit  that  they  fasted  more  or  less  throughout 
the  season.  In  the  summer  of  fHlMt,  however,  a  large  number  of  cows  were  either 
directly  killed  or  examined  after  accidental  death  and  their  stomachs  also  found  to 
be  devoid  of  fowl.  Even  the  stomach  of  a  cow  dead  from  eluiking  on  a  tish  boiu>  was 
enii)ty.    The  cows  are,  of  course,  absolutely  known  to  feed. 


>)' 


THK   SEAL   1)I(;KSTS    fTTS  POOD   IN   TIIR   WATKR. 

It  seems  necessary,  therefore,  to  find  some  mor«'  rational  explanation  for  the 
absence  of  lood  in  the  stomachs  of  aninnds  taken  on  land.  This  explanation  seems 
to  be  that  (iine?  rion  with  the  fur  seal  is  completed  in  the  water,  and  that  if  not  so 
«!omi)ieted  btHor-  i  reaches  land,  the  animal  loiters  olfshorc  until  it  is  accomplished. 
This  explanatiot  a«H'ount8  for  the  emi)ty  stomaehs  of  bachelors  as  well  as  cows.  It 
ahMi  «?xi)lains  the  -eason  why  the  cows  <io  not  come  directly  on  shore  from  the  sea. 
Tiie  tiact  sliat  ili{es«cion  is  thus  accompli.shed  at  sea  also  accounts  tor  the  relatively 
sunili  luiiMunt  of  «aaMBient  to  be  seen  on  the  irooK«ries  com])are<t  with  the  number  of 

M^         It  is  vnmni  at  sea. 


killed  w 
tion  IK* 

as  a  rnl' 
fellows,  ; 
and  c.ou)«  <mi  si 


THK  EVIDEXCE  * 'r  THE   PfPS. 

regarding  the  feediing  of  i)ups  carried  on  during  the  fall  of 
iSipht  was  thrown  on  tins  eubject.     Where  the  animals  were 
sitteping  in  the  water,  tiiey  were  found  almost  without  «'x<;ep- 
Where  they  were  killed  on  the  rookeries,  they  were 
milk.     The  conclusion  seems  warranted  that  the  little 
well,  spenii  m*k.stof  their  time  in  the  watei  after  feeding 
en  imngry  to  avait  the  return  of  their  mothers.     That  their 


presence  in  tlu'  aifr  a  us  «iaBBected  witii  the  digestion  of  their  food  was  borne  out  by 
the  l'a(!t  that  in  i  )ci:>>l)er,  \^mmi  hundred'*  of  jmps  were  playing  and  sleeping  just  <ttf 
shore  from  the  sjuut  bead  -w  of  Zoltoi,  .akanin,  iiud  English  Hay,  the  samls  w'"e 
strewn  with  pup  excreuieu  cashed  uj>  b*  the  receding  tide,  together  with  the  shells 
and  pebbles. 


; 


I 


// 


u 

I    . 
I-    ; 


r 

X 


/I 


ttittimm 


TlIK    FIR-SEAL    HAREM. 


67 


I 


THE   FASTINd   OF   XHK   SEALS. 

It  is  of  course  known  tluit  tlie  fur  sesils  iir«  probiibly  ciipable  of  abstaining  from 

fowl  for  greater  or  loss  iteiioils.    Tims  tli«  (rows  evidently  do  not  leave  th"'  lookories 

on  tlieir  tirst  landing  within  ten  to  twelve  days.     Whether  such  periods  of  abstinence 

J         from  fooil  are  regular  or  not,  we  do  not  know;    but  that  the  bachelors  and  cows 

3        do  not  fast  for  any  considciable  ])art  of  the  snuiiner  is  plain,  if  for  no  other  reason, 

M        from  the  fact  that  they  maintain  a  uniform  condition  throughout  the  season,  always 

showing  a  plentiful  supply  of  blubber,  but   appearing  in  no  better  condition  at  one 

time  than  another. 

9  The  bulls,  on  the  other  hand,  whi<!li  (h>  undoubtedly  fast,  on  coming  ashore  in  the 

early  spring  are  loaded  down  with  Idubber,  wliich  is  gradually  absorbed,  leaving  the 

aniuuil  thin  and  greatly  reduced  by  the  time  tiie  breeding  season  is  over.     There  is 

abundant  reason  why  the  bulls  shouM  f>»st,  for  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to 

leave  tlieir  places,  and  nature  has  made  provision  for  their  necessities.     A  similar 

provision  seems  to  be  made  for  the  period  of  fasting  which  t!ie  newly  we.'Mied  pup 

must  probably  endure  after  going  to  sea  on  the  winter  migration,  before  it  has  become 

proficient  in  the  new  art  of  lishing.     During  the  months' of  October  and  November, 

and  up  to  the  tinu'  of  their  depart nie,  the  puj)s  grow  excessively  fat. 

THE  IIAUEM. 

The  unit  of  life  on  the  rookeries  is  the  harem.  Tiie  rookeries  themselves  are 
merely  great  banils  or  masses  of  harems  grouix'd  together  along  suitable  beaches. 
The  average  si/e  of  a  harem,  as  Ibund  from  the  enumerations  of  iHilO  and  18!)7,  is  about 
thirty  fenuiles  to  a  single  bull.  The  minimum  and  maximum  limits  range  from  a 
single  cow  to  lot).  The  single  cow  harems  are  formed  generally  in  jiroximity  to  large 
harems,  and  are  as  a  rule  the  result  of  stealing  on  the  part  of  idle  'nils.  Such  bulls, 
when  the  harom  niaster\  attention  is  taken  from  his  charges,  rush  in,  seize  aim  tarry 
oif  cows  bodily.  It  is  rarely  that  such  pirate  harems  can  be  made  to  exceed  a 
single  cow,  as  the  a'limal  must  be  held  against  her  will,  and  in  the  effort  to  secure  a 
second  the  first  one  usually  escapes.  Sometimes,  however,  through  the  voluntary 
desertion  of  cows  fioni  the  large  harems,  it  happens  tlinr  these  smail  liaiems  rival  the 
original  ones  in  size  and  are  again  subject  to  iiillage  by  other  idle  bulls  still  further 
in  the  rear.  These  small  harems  are  found  chietiy  in  the  rear  of  and  on  the  Hanks  of 
the  large  breeding  masses,  such  as  on  Tolstoi,  Iteet,  and  Vostochni. 

LARGE   IIAUEMS. 

The  excessively  large  harems  are  the  result  of  accident  or  favor  a  bleu  ess  of  loca- 
tion rather  than  strength  or  prowess  in  the  bulls.  They  are  to  be  found  in  isohited 
stations  and  where  peculiar  angles  and  turns  of  the  breeding  ground  hem  them  in. 
Thus  on  Gorbatcli  rookery  a  large  bull  held  in  his  charge  '!  group  of  laO  cows  for  a 
week  or  ten  days?.*  Wlioi  .liowance  is  made  for  absenties,  this  harem  must  have 
numbered  between  200  and  300  cows.  Bei.iiid  this  bull  and  his  family  were  a  score 
of  idle  bulls  lying  about  on  the  cinder  sh>i»e.  The  secret  of  his  success  lay  simply  in 
the  fact  that  the  harcin  occupied  a  triangular  jiiece  of  ground  bounded  on  two  sides 
by  precipitous  dill's,  and  ic  was  only  necessary  for  the  bull  to  guard  the  neck  of  land 


'  Daily  .lomniil,  Pt.  II,  initlcr  date  dI'  .Inly  \r,,  lK!t7. 


T 
♦ 


ns 


THE    rilR    SEALS   OF   THE    PBIHU.OK    ISLANDS, 


connecting  with  tli«  slope.  He,  however,  held  the  <'0W8  only  dnrinf;;  thai  ])eriod  when 
they  are  <|uict  and  restint;  after  the  birth  ut' their  pups,  Wlien  tlie  animals  became 
restless  and  demanded  attention  in  innnbers,  the  hxmv  mass  was  presently  broken  np 
into  a  nnmbei'  of  smaller  harems  in  <-har(>'c  of  the  rival  balls,  which  eoidd  n«»  lon{;er 
be  held  in  check. 

HAREM   SIZES. 

lint  such  larjje  harems  were  exceptional,  thoiijrh  harems  nnmbering  ."iO  cows  were 
not  so  rare  wliere  the  (conditions  w«'re  favorable.  The  foll(»wing  is  a  Recti(m  of  Kitovi 
nM»kery,  connted  by  individual  harems,  which  will  give  an  idea  of  the  tliversity  in 
their  sixe: 

A  portion  of  Ixilori  rookfrij,  •liilji  IX,  JSW. 


2.". 


II 


•M) 


<•() 


;m 


III 

l« 

•) 

II 

•Jl 

21 

•) 

12 

10 

1 

17 

in 

:m 

i 

10 

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1 

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12 

;{ 

X, 

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71' 

Hi 

H(l 

:i 

4 

25 

ti 

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55 

25 

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15 

L'l 

7 

11' 

11 

20 

7 

18 

■1 

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ti 

1 

51 

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58 

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ti 

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lit 

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50 

111 

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■ic 

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4 

HAUEM    lUSCII'LINE. 

In  the  management  of  the  harem  the  bull  is  an  adep^.  Whether  he  has  live  cows 
or  fifty,  he  is  master  of  the  situation.  His  will  is  law.  Not  that  it  is  always  tamely 
accepted  as  such,  but  the  result  is  the  same.  If  a  cow  becomes  restless  and  moves 
about,  a  warning  growl  usually  tpiiets  her.  If  the  movement  is  persisted  in  and  au 
nttem])t  to  eseapt^  evident,  the  bull  is  ujt  at  once  with  a  show  of  lierceness  and  in 
chase.  Me  may  simply  strike  the  cow  d<»wn  witli  his  open  month.  Often  in  doing  so 
his  sharp  canines  tear  a  gash  in  her  skin.  He  may  even  sei^.e  her  in  his  month  and 
deliberately  throw  her  or  carry  her  back  into  the  harem.  If  the  cow  thinks  she  has  a 
chance  to  get  away,  she  may  try  to  outrun  the  bull.  If  she  miscalculates  the  distance, 
he  seizes  her  by  the  skin  of  the  back  and  restores  her,  sometimes  in  a  torn  and  bleed- 
ing condilittii,  to  the  family  cirele.  As  a  rule,  however,  the  c(>w  avoids  this  seizure  by 
turning  and  facing  the  bull,  biting  him  in  the  breast  and  neck.  The  bull  then,  by 
gradually  pushing  her  before  him,  forces  her  back  into  the  fold. 

THE    DEI'AKTIUE   OF   THE   COWS. 

These  persistent  edorts  to  gtct  away  are  made  by  the  cows  who  are  ready  to  leave 
for  the  water.  The  cows  are  not  allowed  to  go  until  they  are  served.  The  bull's 
actions  setiin  to  be  based  upon  a  desire  to  be  absolutely  .sure  and  to  take  no  chances. 
The  ('(tw,  when  forced  against  her  will  to  stay,  bides  her  time,  antl  when  tht!  bull  is 
asleep  she  slips  away  uiimolesteil.  It  fieipiently  hap|iens  that  she  has  to  run  the 
gauntlet  o(  a  band  of  young  bulls  whic-h  are  stationed  itlong  the  water  front  and  are 
always  ready  to  intercept  the  departing  cow.  The  cow  shows  much  skill  ami  shrewd- 
ness in  outwitting  them.     Once  in  the  water  her  superior  «|uickness  enables  lu  r  to 


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outawiin  her  pursuers.  In  one  or  two  iiistrtiu-es  ii  (iliase  (if  tliis  sort  could  Uv,  traoeil 
for  a  lialf  mile  or  more  out  to  sea  b.v  tlie  dolpliin  leaps  of  the  animals  as  tliey  rose 
above  the  surface  to  breathe.  Tliesc  iu.staiu'e.s  were  chietly  to  be  seen  late  in  .lune. 
before  tlie  baud  of  seals  oil'  the  rookery  front  was  large  enoujjh  to  furnish  jtroteetion 
to  the  departing  cows, 

MKTIIODS  (»!•"    l)IS(;il'LINK. 

In  the  ordinary  discipline  of  the  harem  a  growl  from  the  bull  usually  tpMets  the 
cows.  This  growl  is  also  forthcoming  wlieii  the  cows  quarrel  among  themselves,  as 
they  fre<picntly  do.  Sometimes  it  is  n  M-essary  tor  the  bull  to  get  up  and  i(Uiet  them 
by  chuckling  and  scolding  over  them,  apparently  in  a  tone  of  reinou.stran«'e. 

At  times,  even  when  his  cows  are  all  asleej«,  the  bull  rouses  hii  iself  np  and  by 
encircling  his  harem  and  whistling,  chuckling,  and  .snarling  starts  t!ie  cows  up  and 
crowds  them  together.  No  apparent  reason  for  such  a«',tioii  can  be  s«'eii.  It  seems  on 
the  face  of  it  an  unnecessary  exhibition  of  authority,  whic  h,  however,  maj  serv-  some 
puri)ose.  Having  rounded  up  his  harem,  the  bull  may  return  to  his  favorite  sleeping 
spot  to  resume  lis  nap,  (>r  he  may  pick  a  quarrel  with  iiis  neighbor. 

THK  noiiriNd  OK  Tin;  lun.i.s. 

At  times  the  ytmng  bulls,  in  attempting  to  reach  the  rear  of  the  rookeries  without 
going  around,  break  through  tiie  line  of  haiein.s.  'J'heir  entrance  into  tiie  rookery 
eonllnes  sets  everything  in  an  uproar.  Kach  bull  into  whose  domain  he  comes  attacks 
ilie  intruder  and  passes  him  along  to  the  next.  Occasionally  some  over- valiant  Lull 
g(tes  too  far  from  his  harem.  The  idie  bulls  are  (M1  thealerl  and  seize  the  occasion  to 
carry  oil'  cows.  In  very  rare  instances  an  idle  bull  may  step  in  and  take  the  whole 
harem,  whipjiing  out  its  rightful  owner  when  he  attempts  t'»  return.  So,  over  the 
whole  section  of  the  rookery  thus  stirred  u)),  lighting  ensues  and  ('onfnsion  reigns. 
In  the  height  of  the  breeding  season  such  incidents  are  of  Inmrly  occurrence. 

TIfE    KAin.V    Kl(iIITI.V<:    OVKUKSTIMATKK. 

It  is  in  the  heiglit  ;)!' the  season,  and  tiicn  alone,  tliiir  the  excessive  ligliting 
among  the  bulls  occurs.  It  has  been  currently  supposed  that  from  the  period  of  the 
landing  of  the  (irst  bulls  they  were  engaged  in  (b'fending  tluMi'  jxisitions  in  liloody 
battles;  that  a  truce  resulting  fnmi  these  tirsi  contests  for  plac<-^  was  gr:idimily 
established;  that  this  was  broken  on  the  arrival  of  the  tirst  cows,  wiien  a  peiiod  of 
desperate  and  spasmodic  lighting  began. 

Such,  however,  was  not  the  case  in  IS!)!,  and  has  probably  never  been  the  ca.se. 
As  the  bulls  spend  the  days,  after  the  breeding  season  is  over,  in  resting  and  sleeping 
in  good  fellowship  on  the  sand  beaches,  .so  they  seem  to  spend  the  period  of  wajting, 
l»ri(n'  to  the  arrival  <»f  the  cows,  in  sleeping  and  resting.  At  the  time  of  our  landnnt 
at  St.  (Jeorge,  on  .luue  7,  it  could  not  be  determined  from  the  deck  of  the  vessel, 
anchored  but  a  few  rods  olV  the  iook«'ry,  whether  it  wiis  occupied  or  not.  V\'ith  a 
glass  a  few  bulls  could  be  seen.  On  elo.se  inspection  the  beach  w  <-  f'aind  to  co'  f.at« 
ISO  adult  bulls  evenly  distributed  over  the  rookery  territory.  VVl;.';i  disturbed  tl»in- 
roused  uj)  and  roared  both  at  the  intruderand  at  one  another:  i)ut  iUey  s«ion  returned 
to  their  sleep.  There  was  no  commotion,  no  excitement.  When  j»r»»s.sed  too  clo.sfly 
they  gave  evidence  of  willingness  to  yield  their  gntiiud.     N«)  test  of  wli«*hei  i  hey  coidd 


I 


60 


THK    FUR    SEALS   OF   THE   PKIHILOF   ISLANDS. 


be  driven  off  was  deemed  iidvisable.  There  wai)  no  fighting  among  them  at  that 
time  nor  any  apparent  inclination  to  tight  voluntarily.  That  no  marked  lighting 
liad  occurred  previovis  to  this  time  was  evident  from  the  fact  that  but  few  wounds  or 
fresh  scars  could  be  seen  upon  the  animals.  In  this  regard  they  were  in  nnirked 
(tontrast  to  their  condition  in  the  middle  of  the  season,  when  the  harem  bull  or  idle 
bull  that  did  not  show  gashes  about  the  breast  and  shoulders  was  the  cxceittion  and 
not  the  rule. 

At  this  early  date  the  bulls  not  only  did  not  pay  any  attention  to  one  another, 
but  even  allowed  the  bachelors  to  occupy  places  among  them  and  to  haul  out  where 
they  pleased.  Later  in  the  season  this  could  not  have  occurred.  A  bacihelor  or  young 
bull  then  appearing  within  range  of  an  adult  bull  was  violently  attacked. 

NO  PIOIITlNCf  OVEK  ABttlVING  COWS. 

As  the  description  of  the  arrival  of  the  cows  has  already  indicated,  there  could 
be  nothing  nu)re  incorrect  than  the  reported  battles  over  tlicm.  To  the  first  arrival 
of  the  cow  the  bulls  are  utterly  indifferent  excei)t  when-  she  becomes  the  object  of 
capture  by  a  particular  bull.  Once  in  the  harems,  the  cows  receive  little  attention  even 
from  their  lords  alter  tlie  tirst  brief  welcome  and  absolutely  none  from  other  bulls. 
This  was  but  natural.  The  landing  cows  were  heavy  with  young.  These  must  Ix'. 
born  aiul  a  period  of  a  week  elapse  before  they  could  become  an  object  of  interest  to 
the  bull.  The  attitu<le  of  the  bull  at  the  outset  was  one  merely  of  defense  or  struggle 
for  jmssession.    He  was  not  iuHuenceil,  as  he  was  later  on,  by  sexual  excitement. 

The  real  i)eriod  of  struggle  and  contest  on  the  ntokeries  occurred  after  the  1st  of 
July,  when  the  cows  began  to  (',(uu«  in  heat  in  large  numbers.  From  this  time  on  to 
the  close  (»f  the  season  more  or  less>  tightiug  could  always  be  seen. 

Kl(}HTIN(i    INFLUENCED   HY  SEXUAL   INSTINCT. 

When  the  breeding  season  was  over  and  the  bulls  had  returned  to  the  sand  beaches 
from  feeding,  their  Hghting  instincts  were  i)lainly  gone  and  they  could  be  gathered 
up  ami  driven  about  like  the  bachelors.  In  securing  specimens  for  dissection  or  other 
l)uriioses,  two  or  three  men  could  round  up  from  400  to  .'iOO  bulls  on  Zoltoi  sands  and 
drive  the:;i  over  to  the  killing  grounds.  They  could  be  handled  and  driven  exactly 
as  sheep  are.  In  the  breeding  season  a  dozen  men  could  not  move  one  of  these  bulls 
from  his  place  or  make  away  with  him  otherwise  than  by  killing  him.  His  courage 
and  lighting  (jualities  are  simply  tioundless  in  tiie  defense  of  his  harem.  He  will  not 
interfere  with  the  observer  who  keeps  at  a  reasonable  distance,  but  when  too  (ilosely 
sipproaehed  he  will  charge  liercely  and  quickly,  and  the  adult  bull  on  the  breeding 
groumls  is  about  as  dangerous  as  a  bear.  .Tudging  from  the  way  in  which  they  tear 
one  another,  a  man  would  fare  badly  in  their  clutches.  The  bull,  however,  does  not 
follow  up  his  e!ieniy  beyond  a  certain  point,  and  always  returns  to  his  real  or  imagi- 
nary hareuL  This  makes  escape  an  easy  matter.  The  chief  sourceof  danger  in  getting 
about  among  the  bulls  is  in  the  possibility  of  slipping  or  stumbling  on  the  rocks,  or 
of  running  into  the  range  of  a  sleeping  animal  while  escaping  from  another.  One  can 
not  always  easily  distinguish,  in  the  foggy  atmosphere  of  Bering  Sea,  the  idle  bulls 
from  the  stones  among  which  they  lie.  That  no  accidents  have  occurred  to  the  various 
investigators  from  the  attacks  of  bull  seals  is  due  to  tlie  wholesome  caution  and  resjiect 
which  their  courage  and  ai)parent  cai)acity  for  mischief  hav»^  inspired. 


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FIGHTINU    OP   THE    HKACII    MA8IKUS. 


61 


MANNKK  OK   ■•'KiHriNd. 

Much  of  tlio  HO  tallod  tlj^'httllK,  cspocially  iiinoii^  the  liiiiciii  hulls,  is  a  HpucieH  of 
"Itiutliiit;'' acroinpaiiinl  by  ii  good  deal  of  roaring;  and  lilowiii^;,  but  (Midiiig  without 
injury.  TIm^  signal  for  su(;h  a  porfornnince  jh  a  i-halicngin^'  roar  on  the  part  of  soniu 
bull  and  an  answciing  roai-  from  the  eiialhtngud  iuill.  Thi>  two  animals  approach 
each  other,  and  when  at  a  certain  distanuu  apart,  both  strike  out  witii  that  Ion;; 
serpent  like  stroke  characteristic  of  the  seal.  In  niakiu};  the  stroke  the  bulls  let 
tluunselves  down  with  their  breasts  on  the  ground,  and,  after  pulling  out  their  nnisky 
breath,  which  forms  a  cloud  in  the  cool,  ni  list  air,  they  ri^tht  themselves  and,  standing 
for  a  minute  with  averted  heads,  return  to  their  places. 

REAL   ri(illTIN(i. 

These  are  merely  cx<^hanges  of  friendly  greetings  between  the  harem  masters, 
lietween  the  harem  nuisters  and  the  idle  bulls,  or  between  individuals  of  the  latter 
class,  the  nnitter  is  more  seri<ms.  The  same  preliminaries  are  gone  through  with, 
but  the  stroke  does  not  fall  short  and  end  in  liasco.  The  aim  is  taken  for  the 
foretlipper  at  the  angle  of  the  body,  and  if  it  is  true,  a  deep  red  gash  is  the  result. 
But  the  animals  are  expert  in  averting  the  attack  by  throwing  the  flipper  under  the 
body.  Failing  in  reat^hing  the  coveted  point  of  attack,  a  conipiondse  is  made,  each 
animal  seizing  the  other  by  the  skin  of  the  shoulder  or  breast,  wherever  the  hold  can 
be  obtained.  They  then  clinch  and  tug  and  strain  in  their  efforts  each  to  overturn 
the  other  or  to  push  him  from  his  place.  The  strength  of  the  powerful  jaws  is  such 
that  not  infrequently  a  great  gaping  rent  in  the  tough  hide  is  the  result.  If,  however, 
the  hold  is  firm,  and  one  aninuil  is  strong  enough  to  push  the  other,  this  ends  the 
tight,  the  one  yielding  giving  it  u|).  If  the  aninmls  are  nnue  evenly  matched,  alter 
each  clinch  they  return  to  renew  the  struggle  in  a  species  of  rounds,  gauged  by  the 
endurance  of  the  bulls.  They  are  soon  fatigued  on  land,  as  they  have  ditllculty  in 
getting  breath,  and  any  exertion  must  be  of  short  duration. 

That  some  of  these  lights  are  continued  until  one  or  the  other  of  the  animals  dies 
of  exhaustion,  is  abundantly  proved  by  the  bodies  of  dead  bulls  fimnd  on  the  ro(»keries 
and  especially  in  that  territory  occupied  by  the  idle  bulls.  On  Zapadni  rookery  no 
less  than  ten  of  these  animals,  freshly  dead,  were  seen  about  the  middle  of  .Inly.  The 
bodies  w«'re  torn  and  gashed,  but  none  of  the  wounds  were  ca])ablc  of  causing  death, 
whicli  probably  resulted  directly  from  exhaustion. 

THE  tim;atmi;nt  of  thk  cows. 

The  fights  between  the  harem  masters  and  the  idle  bulls  are  at  bottom  due  to  the 
attempts  of  the  latter  class  to  steal  the  cows.  When  an  idle  bull  steals  a  cow,  be 
is  usually  attacked  by  her  master.  Sometimes  he  drops  th«^  cow,  which  returns 
to  the  harem  while  the  bulls  settle  the  acc<mnt.  It  sometimes  happens,  however, 
that  the  master  oi"  perhaps  a  third  bull  seizes  the  cow  and  she  is  ]>ulled  about  until 
oile  or  the  other  hold  loosens.  Doubtless  a  certain  number  of  cows  aie  literally 
torn  to  pieces  in  this  way.  One  was  seen  on  Kitovi  rookery  to  lie  limp  and  insensible 
for  five  minutes  after  being  thus  treated.  She  afterwards  crawled  away,  evidently 
seriously  hurt.  That  the  number  of  cows  killed  by  the  bidls  in  their  struggles  or  by 
the  rough  treatment  of  the  harem  masters  is  considerable  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 


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THE   VVH    SEALS   OF   THE    PRIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


110  l(!ss  than  i'2  (lead  cows  were  found  in  tlie  season  of  1897  on  lieef  rookery,  the 
majority  of  which  were  so  torn  and  mangled  as  to  point  to  the  harsh  treatment  of 
the  hulls  as  the  jtrobable  cause.  Other  cows  were  found  dead  from  siniihir  cause 
on  all  the  rookeries.     In  181)0  l.'U,  all  told,  were  thus  counted. 

The  bulls  are  anything  but  gentle  with  the  cows.  Examples  of  their  rough  treat- 
ment can  at  any  time  be  seen  on  the  rookeries.  Living  cows,  cut  and  slashed  and 
torn,  are  everywhere  visible.  In  most  cases  the  injury  is  due  probably  to  accident 
rather  than  intention.  In  one  case,  however,  on  Lukanin  rookery  during  the  sumnu>r 
of  1S97,  a  bull  simply  bit  and  worried  a  stolen  cow  until  he  killed  her.  When  first 
seen  she  was  considerably  toii,  iiaving  been  stolen  froni  a  neighboring  harem  by  her 
master,  an  idle  bull.  She  was  restless  and  kept  making  constant  efforts  to  escape. 
The  bull  treated  her  roughly,  but  while  observed  was  not  seen  to  injure  her  seriously. 
At  ev<Hy  time  the  rookery  was  subsequently  inspected,  however,  she  was  found  to  be 
in  worse  conditicm,  until  alter  two  days  she  was  found  dead.  The  bloody  jaws  and 
front  of  her  nnister  showed  jdainly  who  was  responsible.  The  body  was  recovered 
and  the  skin  taken  and  tanned  as  a  specimen  of  the  wanton  cruelty  of  the  bull. 

THK   WOUNDS   OF   THF-   FUR   SEAL. 

The  attitude  of  the  fur  seals  toward  their  wounds  is  striking.  There  is  no  attempt 
to  nurse,  lick,  or  otherwise  notice  them.  A  bull,  whose  foretlipper  is  hacked  and 
bleeding,  his  every  movement  lacerating  still  further  the  injured  muscles,  maybe  seen 
rushing  about,  rounding  up  his  harem,  bidding  deflance  to  every  idle  bull  within 
reach.  A  cow  may  be  seen  going  about  with  a  flap  of  skin  0  inches  square  torn  from 
lier  back.  A  pup  was  seen  from  whose  side  the  skin  and  blubber  was  torn  and 
hanging  in  a  liap,  leaving  the  intestines  bare,  and  it  was  still  a  lively  and  apparently 
cheerful  pup,  A  bull  in  attempting  to  carry  oft"  Ji  cow  from  a  harem  was  attacked  by 
the  owner  of  the  cow.  Instead  of  dropping  her  and  defending  himself  lie  clung  to 
her  and  took  his  punishment,  struggling  on.  The  harem  master  seized  him  by  the 
exposed  flank,  and  when  he  released  his  hold,  after  almost  overturning  the  bull,  the 
blcod  gushe-l  out  from  the  holes  made  by  his  ugly  canines.  The  thief  escaped  with 
the  cow  and  added  her  to  his  small  harem  of  two.  Iii  his  self-satisfied  peramlmlations 
about  his  family  group  he  soon  made  a  space  of  about  10  feet  square  crimson  with  his 
blood.  The  next  day  the  bull  was  just  as  pugnacious  as  ever,  and  even  made  an 
attempt  to  steal  a  fourth  cow.  His  wounds,  of  which  he  had  many,  were  a  source  of 
no  apparent  annoyance  to  him. 

The  thick  coating  of  blubber  under  the  skin  with  which  the  seals  of  all  classes  are 
lined  is  doubtless  not  very  sensitive,  and  this,  not  the  muscles,  is  torn  ami  lacerated. 
The  diiuatic  conditions,  the  salt  water,  and  the  absence  of  flies  render  the  liealing  of 
the  wounds  rajtid,  and  by  the  middle  of  August  but  few  traces  remain,  except  the 
welt  or  scar  iii  the  skin  which  at  times  results  from  imperfect  healing.  The  wound 
which  so  many  bulls  receive  at  the  angle  of  the  foreflipper  is  usually  kept  gaping  open 
to  such  an  extent  by  the  movements  of  the  aninials  that  a  perpetual  scar  remains. 

THE   INSTINCT   FOB   FIOIITING. 

The  fighting  among  the  bulls  has  evidently  been  a  feature  of  the  breeding  grounds 
so  long  that  it  has  become  an  instinct  with  the  males.  On  every  hauling  ground  the 
bachelors  of  all  ages  are  constantly  going  through  in  play  the  movements  of  their 


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THE  SKIN  OF  A  COW  TORN  AND  BITTEN   TO   DEATH    BY   HER   BULL  ON   LUKANIN   ROOKERY,   SAINT   PAUL  ISLAND, 

JULY,    1897. 


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tu. 

lai 

ar 

in 

II 

a 


S,.EEP    OV   THE    FUR   SKA^S- 


63 


S,.EEi>  OV  TH«.  --»  ,.,.  blow, bra.h.«  ana 

Tl.is  same  tluut,'  »>*  ^nic  ..t  "  ^^.j^  ,,^,„i  ot  t^^«  -  ^^.,  (,,«  body,  at.a 

it  is  such  '^re''^'   ""Jr  ,^  " 
„f  t\.e  buU8  by  its  vesults. 


M  •    nu.turo  of  tbe  aubnaU'd  bte  of  tlu-  t  ^^^^  ^.^^,,g 

TO  appreciate  ^""^^^^^^^^^^  -^'«'"C"e  v  nZ  BU^aned  effovts 

nuist  take  into  account  tbeinea    J  ,,f  defiance     ^     ,^^'"  j^^^i,,^,  chucliUng,  and 

veut  at  interval,  to  the     ^ wage  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^  *■"!"  l^ Im  l^vt'if  the  female  .nul 
lo  maintr'u  discipline  in  «;j,^d  with  all  this  '«  ^^'«  f  ^l^l  .^  of  the  sheep  and  the 
scolding  iu  various  not-  J^'^  ^  .^.^^  ^„^,,,,o„a  to     -   ;\  J  thousands  of  these 
tue  answering  call  o    t^»e^     ^       ^^,^^^,,  ,,  ,,  ""'^^   "  ^t  e  uproar  and  confusion 
lamb,  thougb  ^•'•«**^\";;  Bering  all  the  time,  some  ide.M.^^U^^     I  ^^  ^^^^  ^ 

-- t  HSr^^^^'.  f;^  ::  ;"t,t  :'X  i^  -thing,  greater 
..eearly  daysof  .eb..;ng  ^:::J;:P^oJ.;^XX^ 

r::n:s;ri:i3^-j-r^^^ 

Scows  are  landing  in  ^-^-^o  marked.     But  even  t^..     b-g  ^^^^^  ^^ 

the  noise  and  «o"f«^""  ,7^°™  comfortably  asleep.    ^  J^^[^™  ,^    '   «  is  soand  asleep. 

llportion  of  the  animals  are  co  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^"^"  '"i^  'i  up  and  stirring,  and 

for  tbe  time  being,  every  ««;.^  ^^^  contvtsion,  every  '"'  "f  J  ,^„ts  awake  and 

B  slle  it  may  be  a  ^-rem  wh  c    -^^  ^^^,^,„  ,,,  ''':':Ll.^:^^^  among  the  idle 

,nost  of  them  calling.     St  »       ^^^^_^^^  ^^^^^^^^^^^  ^,„,„,  ti.e  p 

active,  the  rest  asleep.  .       ^^,^  ^ve  pups  't 

bulls,  it  is  the  same.  ^  ^^rtain  times,     m  ^ «'  .  ^  gpj,ee  on 

^"'^^The  seals  sleei>  very  -^^^\;  ,,  ,,  loO  P^^-vou  d     e  ^    -  .       ^^^,  ,,  their 

ftequentlyhappened  tia  J  PO  undisturbed  b    tbe  ^^^^ 

wii  a  half  ^V-- ;^ J\?  Vabft  of  sleeping  -";"^^^,;  advantage  of  the  ^abit 
companions.    To  t^'^;^^/^,^,.    The  pelagic  sealer,  taking    ^is  spear  into  it  or  hlUt 
pelagic  sealing  is  I'^^g^^^,^"', «  sleeping  animal  and  throw 
i:  able  to  row  close  up  to  ^^^      ^^  ^.^.,  ,,  t, 

^ith  buckshot.  sleeping  m  t^'^ ^^^^^^^^^e  surface,  and,  it  is  said 

The  attitude  of  the  sea  ^^^^j,„g  ab<  ve  ti  ,^  ^o  keep  the 


I 


64 


THK    FUK    ftKALtt   OF   THE    I'RIllILOF    ISLANDS. 


tlie  {^niiitest  ronifort,  rocked  by  the  geiitlo  swell.  In  such  culm  <liiys  as  occiu'  (luring 
the.  months  of  September  and  October  the  water  ort"  the  rookery  fronts  and  sand 
beaches  is  literally  black  with  the  swimming  and  sleeping  pups.  Occasionally  older 
seals  at  this  time,  and  more  frequently  earlier  in  the  season,  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
same  position. 

TIIKIU   ATT1TIU)EH. 

An  interesting  feature  about  the  fur  seal  in  its  naps  on  the  rookery  is  the 
variety  of  attitudes  which  it  assumes.  The  sleeping  animals  assume  every  (conceivable 
sha])e  and  position.  One  animal  is  stretched  (mt  at  full  length  on  its  back,  another 
oil  its  side,  still  another  on  its  stomach.  Again,  the  hind  flippers  may  be  tucked 
np  under  the  body,  the  forcHippers  outstretched.  These  conditions  may  be  exactly 
reversed.  Or  the  hind  flippers  may  be  waving  lazily  in  the  air  like  a  fan.  On  a 
day  when  the  sun  shines  for  a  few  minutes  the  seal  lies  prone  upon  the  ground  with 
its  tlippers  in  the  air.  The  sight  of  thousands  upon  thousands  of  the  animals  thus 
stretched  out,  almost  gasping  for  breath  and  with  every  hind  flipper  waving  in  the 
effort  to  keep  cool,  is  a  most  interesting  one. 

The  seals  enjoy  the  rocks.  They  do  not  care  for  a  smooth  and  even  bed.  The 
body  has  a  wonderful  power  of  adaptation  to  its  rocky  bed  of  water-worn  bowlders. 
One  cow  finds  a  flat  rock  on  which  she  curls  up  and  lets  her  head  hang  over  the  side 
at  a  most  reckless  angle.  Another  lies  with  her  head  elevated  upon  a  rock,  as  though 
on  a  pillow.  A  favorite  position  among  the  animals  is  to  sleep  sitting  up  with  the 
head  thrown  back  and  the  body  wavering  with  the  respirations  as  if  it  would  fall. 
On  rookeries  where  perpendicular  cliffs  form  the  back  ground  the  animals  are  to  be 
found  stowed  away  on  little  shelves  and  in  little  angles  where  it  is  a  wonder  they  can 
keep  their  positions  at  all. 

THE   COLORATION. 

There  is  more  or  less  diversity  in  the  coloration  of  the  various  animals,  which 
lends  interest  to  the  picture  of  rookery  life.  The  little  pups  are  at  birth  shiny  black 
with  a  white  spot  in  the  axil.  Some  of  them  show  a  brownish  shade  along  the  throat 
and  belly.  In  September  they  shed  their  black  coats  and  don  coats  of  gray,  which, 
under  the  action  of  the  weather,  soon  change  into  the  brownish  or  combination  brown 
and  silvery  color  of  the  adults. 

On  her  first  landing  the  adult  female  is  dark,  slightly  olivaceous,  gray.  Under 
exposure  to  the  weatluM',  and  especially  the  sunshine,  she  turns  to  a  rusty  reddish 
brown,  somewhat  darker  on  the  back,  lighter  on  the  throat  and  belly.  The  great 
uniformity  of  this  coloration,  as  seen  among  the  cows  during  June  of  1897  before  they 
had  begun  to  go  to  sea,  confirms  the  belief  that  these  darker  colors,  as  a  rule,  go  with 
the  older  anin>.als. 

About  the  middle  of  July,  the  time  at  which  the  younger  bachelors  begin  to 
appear  in  greatest  number,  the  rookeries  also  show  large  numbers  of  animals  which 
in  their  silvery  throat.--  and  bellies  contrast  sharply  with  the  animals  already  present. 
Their  backs  present  the  same  dark-brown  shade,  but  the  silvery  gray  underneath  the 
body  is  entirely  different.  Their  small  size,  the  black  whiskers,  and  the  lateness  of 
their  arrival  ])roclaiin  them  to  be  younger  animals.  But  not  all  the  younger  animals 
are  of  this  sort,  as  two  virgin  females  killed  side  by  side  were  each  of  a  distinct  type 


:f 


^^mmsa^: 


f. 


THE    I'lTIJ    OF    THE    FUR    SKAL.  63 

«»f(;(»loi'iitioii.  This  mnkcs  it  possible  only  to  say  tliiit  the  oklor  seiiU  jire  more  uuifortn 
iiiid  (liirkor  in  color,  whih'  uinong  the  younger  seals  thero  is  more  diversity.  It  scenis 
likely  that  the  li'-hter  colors  in  the  youiip  seals  correspond  to  the  brownish  bellied 
black  pupa.  AnionH;  tlie  bachelors  the  colors  se«iin  more  iiniforni,  thouKli  the  younger 
males  show-  again  a  preponderance  of  the  lighter  shades. 

The  greatest  diversity  exists  among  the  bulls.  Among  the  harem  masters  there 
are  two  general  types,  one  almost  black,  the  other  reddislibnnvn.  Hotli  styles  of 
coloration  are  associated  with  the  older  animals,  bat  which  is  the  ohler  of  the  two  is 
not  apparent.    The  younger  bulls  are,  as  a  rule,  gray. 

But  these  three  are  only  general  types.  There  is  the  greatest  individual  varia 
tion  among  tlie  bulls  (»("  all  classes,  and  almost  any  combination  of  shades  or  mingling 
of  shades  can  be  fcnind.  Much  of  the  individual  variation  is  due  to  the  length  of 
time  the  animals  have  been  out  of  the  water;  in  other  words,  to  the  intluenceof 
exposure.  In  the  water  anu  w  ..en  wet  there  is  but  little  difference  in  the  coloration. 
In  rainy  weather  the  animals  are  all  of  one  shade. 

TJIK    I'ELAUK. 

Tiie  diversity  of  color  in  the  fur  seal  is  contined  chieHy  to  the  outer  or  water  hairs 
which  project  beyond  the  fur.  The  fur  itself  is  fairly  uniform.  In  the  pups  the  water 
hair  is  glossy  black  at  birth  and  is  replaced  in  two  to  thiee  months  by  hair  of  gray. 
In  the  females  the  water  hair  is  more  or  less  uniform  in  lengtli,  and  the  same  is  true 
of  the  males  until  after  the  third  year.  From  this  time  on  the  liairon  the  neck  of  the 
nnile  becomes  longer  and  coarser,  developing  with  the  growth  of  the  bull  into  stitt" 
bristles,  ccmstituting  the  mane,  or  "wig, 'as  it  is  called. 

Beneath  this  water  hair  is  the  short,  thick  fur  of  the  seal.  In  the  prei»aration  of 
the  seal  skins  these  hairs  are  carefully  removed,  leaving  only  the  short,  thick  fur.  It 
has  been  asserted  that  the  pup  is  born  without  fur,  having  only  the  black  hair,  and 
that  it  does  not  attain  its  full  pelage  until  the  second  year.  This  is  not  the  case.  The 
pup  at  birth  has  short  fuzzy  fur,  which  grows  rapidly,  and  is  of  considerable  length 
when  the  animal  begins  to  swim.  By  the  time  it  is  ready  for  the  sea  in  the  fall  its 
fur  differs  in  length  and  thickness  from  that  of  the  older  seals  only  as  the  size  of  the 
animal  varies. 

THE   STAGV    «E.\.S(»N. 

Between  the  middle  of  August  and  the  middle  of  October  the  adult  animals  shed 
their  hair  and  get  a  new  coat.  During  this  season  the  skins  of  the  seals  are  .said  to 
be  stagy,  and  they  are  not  taken  on  land.  The  fact,  however,  that  one  of  the  most 
important  catches  at  sea  is  taken  in  August  and  September  has  led  to  some  confusion. 
It  has  been  held  by  those  interested  that  no  stagy  .seals  were  found  at  sea,  and  from 
this,  by  inference  at  least,  it  has  been  suggested  that  these  anin)als  are,  for  some 
reason,  a  different  class. 

In  his  report  for  1.S9(J,  the  Canadian  connuissioner,  Mr.  Andrew  Ilalkv^tt,  quotes 
the  statements  of  a  large  number  of  sealers  to  the  ett'ect  that  they  had  never  known  a 
stagy  seal  at  sea  aiid  had  seen  very  few  in  poor  condition  as  to  fur.  Mr.  Halkett 
expresses  his  own  opinion  as  follows: 

I  hiivo  simply  to  saytliat  uotlihig  leBembling  a  seal  in  poor  roiiditioii,  eitli.r  iis  to  hair  or  fur,  waa 
smiii  l.y  iiKs  iiltlioiigli  some  KOO  passed  through  iiiv  liands. 
15184 5 


66 


THE   FUR   SEALS   OF   THE    I'BIUILOF    1HLAND8. 


IIo  adds  tliu  ruiiiiirk: 

I  liiivo  IIO  ililllriilty  to  ilui'idr  im  to  a  binl  in  »  iiioltiii.t;  niiiilitioii  or  hi  lull  liriTiliiiK  |i1iiiimK«,  or 
n  iiiiiiniiial  whi-u  caHtiiiK  i''*  luiir,  ho  tliut  I  citiiiiol  iiudcrstuiul  wliy  it  nIiuiiIiI  lie  ho  dilllt'iilt  to  tull  ii 
Mta^y  weal. 

Tlio  troiiblo  hei'v  arises  from  a  iiiisiiiHlcrstaiidiiitj;  ut'  what  is  iiioaiit  iiy  ''stagincHs." 
it  douH  not  doBigiiato  any  iiiariviMl  ditt'oreiice  in  quantity  of  tlio  fur.  It  has  cliivtiy 
to  do  with  the  conditi(Ui  ot  thu  water  luiir.  During  tiiu  months  of  August,  Soptcnilier, 
and  October  tlie  water  hairs  are  gradually  replaced  by  a  new  growth.  Wliile  this 
new  hair  is  growing  and  before  it  has  attained  its  full  length  it  sticks  tightly,  and  Ih 
very  ditllcult  to  remove  in  uidniirlng  the  skin  in  the  process  of  dressing.'  The  practical 
impossibility  of  removing  all  the  short  hairs  depreciates  the  value  of  the  skins.  When 
the  seals  are  taken  on  the  islands  in.Iunuand  July  the  skins  are  aiiproaching  the  time 
when  these  hairs  are  ready  to  fall  out,  and  they  arc  (tonseipiontly  more  easily  removed. 
Ah  a  large  part  of  thu  value  of  the  skin  is  the  result  of  the  labor  put  upon  it  in 
prejKiration,  anything  which  tends  to  increase  this  labor  decreases  the  value  of  the 
pelt  in  the  raw  state. 

To  the  eye  of  the  casual  or  uutraiued  observer  the  skin  of  the  seal  tak»'n  in 
August  or  September  does  not  show  staginess.  If  the  fur  is  parted,  however,  the 
short  hair  can  be  seen  among  the  fur  and  hidden  by  it. 

('Uder  these  conditions  it  is  not  strange  that  sealers  a  id  others  do  not  recognize 
the  seals  as  stagy.  Staginess  is  a  condition  fully  recogni/.ed  and  appreciated  oidy 
by  the  furrier.  In  deference  to  his  wishes,  the  seals  on  tlie  islands  are  not  taken  while 
they  are  in  this  condition.  As  a  result,  for  ohis  reiiBon  among  others,  the  island  catch 
is  regarded  as  superior  to  the  catch  taken  at  sea.  Tho  pelagic  sealer  do(\s  not  respect 
the  stagy  season,  and  declares  that  he  takes  no  stagy  seals,  but  the  price  he  obtains 
for  his  skins  clearly  indicates  that  the  furrier  does  not  i..grce  with  him. 

TIIK    VKttlVAL  OK  THE  Y(»l'N(iKI{   SKALS. 

There  remains  yet  to  be  recorded  the  arrival  of  the  young  1  and  '2  year  old 
females.  Their  brothers,  we  found,  arrive  at  the  islands  about  the  middle  of  -Iidy 
and  spend  their  time  on  the  hauling  grounds.  Whether  the  young  females  come  with 
them  to  the  vicinity  of  the  islands  or  are  associated  with  them  on  the  migrations  is 
not  known.    But  they  do  not  associate  with  them  to  any  great  extent  on  the  islands. 

The  2-year-old8  come  to  tlie  rookeries  about  the  lirst  of  August.  They  take 
up  their  places  in  the  old  harems  or  in  new  and  temporary  ones  in  charge  of  young 
bulls  on  the  water  front  and  in  the  rear  of  the  regular  breeding  grounds.  Here  they 
are  served  by  the  bulls  and  return  to  the  water. . 


'Tlio  (Illllciilties  ill  the  way  of  troatinj;  utagy  skins  are  well  put  in  the  following  extract  from 
a  letter  by  Mr.  Isaac  Liebeu,  of  the  liriu  of  H.  Lielieet  A-  Co.,  furriers,  of  San  Francisco,  Ciil. : 

'•The  short  or  water  hair  (in  stagy  skins)  can  never  bo  entirely  romoveil,  iiiid  in  iitteuiitting  to 
do  HO  a  great  deal  of  the  wool  is  jiiilled  out  with  the  hair,  which  of  course  deteriorates  the  <iiiality. 
Then  again,  the  stuinps  of  the  hair  being  left  in  the  leather  (as  they  cannot  he  pulled  out,  but  are  cut 
olV),  makes  the  pelt  stitf  and  harsh,  so  that  after  it  is  ]>repai'ed  the  stagy  skin  can  be  cloarly  indicated 
by  the  color  and  texture  of  the  leather.  The  water  hairs  can  never  bo  removed  from  the  thin  aides  o{ 
the  animal,  where  the  fur  is  shorter  than  in  the  back,  and  in  the  procesH  of  machining,  which  these 
skins  undergo,  the  wool  is  separated  so  as  to  expose  the  stiff  hairs,  which  are  then  cut  out,  but  the 
sidtts,  being  so  short  in  fur,  the  machine  cannot  snccesiifnlly  separate  the  hair  from  the  wool." 


4- 


CI.08E    Ul'   TlIK    ItUKKDINCi    SEASON. 


67 


The  yeailiiiK  t'cmalcs  doiihlloHH  collu^  to  the  ishiiKls  in  (Hnupaiiy  with  tii«  U-yeur 
ohls,  hilt  ilo  not  put  in  an  appoanincu  on  the  rookeries  much  before  Seitteinber,  at,  the 
time  when  t\w  pups  of  tlie  year  are  able  to  swim  well  and  begin  to  luuku  their  lirst 
excursions  about  tlie  islands.  For  tiie  rest  of  the  season  tliese  younj;  seals  spend  their 
time  playing  among  the  pups  and  ranging  like  privileged  ehariuiters  over  the  rookeries. 

That  they  <lo  not,  as  has  been  supposed,  frecpient  the  hauling  grounds  with  the 
males  is  doubtless  due  to  the  fact  that  these  would  annoy  them,  for  tlui  instiiiet  of 
rounding  up  a  harem  and  lording  it  over  others  is  early  developed  in  the  young 
male.  A  young  yearling  male  may  freiiucntly  be  seen  rounding  up  a  pod  of  sleeping 
or  resting  pups  with  all  the  gusto  of  an  adult.  The  pu|)S  themaelves  not  iufru(iuuutly 
attempt  the  same  thing  with  their  fellows. 

TIIK   MUKAKINii    11'  Ol'   TIIK   IIUKKDINW   ."^MASON. 

As  has  already  been  said,  about  the  'jr»th  of  -Inly  the  old  harem  bulls,  that  have 
fasted  since  the  lirst  of  May,  begin  to  leave  and  seek  the  feeding  ground.s.  As  they 
withdraw,  their  pla(;es  arc  taken  by  the  idle  bulls.  This  class  of  males  does  not  locate 
delinitely  on  the  breeding  grounds  nmcli  bo'bre  the  arrival  of  the  cows.  They  have, 
therefore,  fasted  a  shorter  period  and  are  a)>ir  to  remain  out  the  .season. 

I>y  the  .'ith  to  the  lOtli  of  August  all  the  iiblebodied  adult  bulls  have  gone,  and 
the  younger  bulls,  together  with  the  l)iichelors,  tioek  over  the  breeding  grounds. 
Tlie  bachelors  have,  during  the  breed'  •  .siuisoii,  been  strictly  excluded  from  the  rook- 
eries, but  with  the  «leparture  of  the  bulls  the\  take  atlvantage  of  their  new  freedom, 
and  mingling  with  the  cows  and  pups,  they  roinid  up  mimic  harems  and  mak*;  them- 
selves generally  at  home.  In  a  few  weeks,  however,  the  novelty  of  the  situation 
wears  oil',  and  the  bachelors  return  to  their  favorite  loungiii'''  places  on  the  aaiid 
beaches. 

THE  OONUITION   (»!•'  TIIE  1Utll,>J. 

IVIiuih  has  been  said  of  the  wasted  and  broken  condition  of  the  harem  masters  as 
they  leave  the  islands  after  their  long  fast.  It  is  true  that  they  become  reduced  in 
condition  from  their  earlier  state,  but  they  are  by  no  means  .so  reduced  or  broken  in 
spirit  as  they  are  reported.  During  the  .season  of  l.s<>7,  in  counting  the  pups  on  the 
several  rookeries  it  was  necessary  to  enter  them  late  in  July  or  early  in  August  and 
turn  off  the  adults  into  the  water.  These  .so-called  weak  and  emaciated  bulla  were 
found  not  only  able  but  vnlling  to  fight  us  or  one  another  to  the  last.  In  many  cases 
they  could  not  be  moved  at  all  any  more  than  in  the  height  of  the  season.  This  was  at 
a  time  when  these  animals  must  many  of  them  have  been  without  food  or  water  for  at 
least  two  months.  Our  experience  taught  us  that  so  long  as  an  adult  bull  is  on  the 
breeding  ground  there  is  tight  and  courage  enough  in  him  to  make  him  master  of  the 
situation;  it  is  when  the  breeding  season  is  over  and  he  has  removed  to  the  sand 
beaches  that  he  becomes  tame  and  tractable. 

The  harem  bulls  on  their  first  departure  seek  the  feeding  grounds  and  by  the  fir.st 
of  September  return,  some  of  them  to  their  former  places  on  the  rookeries,  where  they 
plainly  show  their  rejuvenation  by  their  renewed  combativeness,  and  also  by  their 
eftbrts  to  round  up  and  monopolii^e  such  cows  as  still  remain  about.  Most  of  them, 
however,  haul  out  on  the  great  beaches  along  North  Shore,  English  Bay,  and  Lukanin, 
to  sleep  during  the  rest  of  the  season,  going  to  and  coming  from  the  feeding  grounds 
as  they  feel  like  it. 


nr-f;-     T''-|,'^   : 


68 


THE    FUR    SEALS   OF    THE    PRIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


THK   l"t»01)  AND  FKKDING   (iUOUNDS. 

The  ret'tliii};  grounds  of  the  fur  seuls  in  Bering  Heu  lie  to  tiie  south  and  west  of  tiie 
i'ribih»f  Ishiiids,  just  otf  the  lOO-futhoni  curve,  at  a  distancf  of  from  100  to  L'<Hl  miles. 
In  the  migrations  the  ^eals  seem  to  foUow  in  a  general  way  this  same  eurve 

The  food  takeii  by  the  seals  in  Bering  Hea  t-onsists  mainly  of  squid,  pollock,  and  a 
small  smelt  like  tish  known  only  through  the  bones  found  in  the  stomachs  of  the  sesils. 
On  the  migrations  along  the  coast  scjuid  is  again  the  chief  <liet,  though  occsisional 
salmon,  herring,  and  rocktish  are  taken.  This  subject  is  more  fully  treated  by  Mr. 
Lucas  in  Part  III. 

THE  A(}K   OK  THK   SEALS. 

Of  the  age  of  the  fur  seals  we  know  practically  nothing,  but  one  striking  thing 
about  the  fur-seal  rookeries  is  the  absence  of  any  animals  which  seem  to  be  aged  or 
decrepit.  On  certain  sand  beaches  ami  outof-the -way  places  animals  in  poor  condi- 
tion were  seen,  which  at  first  glance  seemed  to  correspond  to  the  class  of  aged  and 
intirm  among  other  animals,  but  on  dissection  they  were  found  without  exception  to 
show  injuries  which  fully  accounted  for  their  condition.  Some  had  dislocated  joints, 
broken  bones,  injuries  to  the  spine,  buckshot  wounds,  and  like  trotibles.  None  were 
suH'ering  from  old  age. 

Nor  is  this  a  thing  to  be  wondered  at.  The  severest  strain  which  the  fur  seal 
undergoes  is  the  winter  migration  in  r>ering  Sea  and  the  North  Pacific.  An  animal 
weak  or  broken  down  from  old  age  or  injuries  of  one  sort  or  another  would  succumb 
first  to  the  hanlships  of  the  sea  and  would  not  return.  To  the  breeding  rookeries  and 
hauling  grounds  are  returned  each  spring  only  those  animals  which  have  possessed 
the  iiardihood  and  strength  to  survive  the  adverse  conditions  of  the  winter.  These 
may  be  relied  upon,  unless  overcome  by  accidents,  to  maintain  themselves  during  the 
summer,  to  be  again  sifted  out  in  the  struggle  for  existence  which  the  ensuing  winter 
renews. 


THE    IMR  SEAT,    WW 

Of  all  the  different  classes  of  animals  the  pups  are  the  most  conspicuous  and 
interesting.  For  the  first  two  months  of  their  lives  they  arc  always  jiresent  on  the 
rookeries  where  they  are  born.  Their  black  coats  contrast  sharply  with  the  gray 
stones  and  with  the  brown  fur  of  their  mothers.  For  a  few  days  after  the  pup 
is  born  it  is  watched  over  by  the  nmlher  with  a  moderate  sliow  of  interest,  which 
manifests  itself  chieHy  in  supplying  it  with  nourishment  and  keeping  it  out  of  the 
way  of  the  clumsy  bull.  But  before  long  the  little  fellow  grows  inde])en(lent  and 
leaves  the  family  circle,  seeking  the  lee  of  a  sheltering  rock  at  a  distance  from  the 
harems.  There  it  spends  its  time  sleeping  and  playing  with  its  companions. 
Whether  this  "  podding"  of  the  pui»s  is  a  matter  of  choice  or  the  outgrowth  of  the 
instinct  of  self-preservation,  the  result  is  good,  for  it  keeps  the  little  fellows  out  of 
the  way  of  the  fighting  and  trampling  bulls.  From  the  time  when  the  pup  joins 
the  pod  it  receives  no  attention  from  the  mother  except  on  her  return  from  the  sea, 
when  she  feeds  it.  Her  absences  are  at  first  brief,  but  as  the  i)up  grows  older  they 
lengthen  <mt.  The  pup  gorges  itself  with  milk  while  the  mother  is  on  land  and  goes 
hungry  until  her  return. 


THK    SWIMMINO    PUPS. 


69 


Wlieii  it  is  iibout  u  month  old  the  pup  seeiis  the  water's  edge,  and  aCter  paddling 
about  for  a  time  in  the  tide  pools  gradually  learns  to  swim.  This  art,  in  which  it 
becomes  wonderfully  expert,  it  liuds  evident  difficulty  in  acquiring. 

THE  SWIMMING  OF   THK   ITPS. 

Many  accounts  have  been  giveu  of  the  way  in  which  various  classes  of  animals  are 
snppo.sed  to  assist  the  pups  in  learning  to  swim.  If  thes(^  have  any  foundation 
whatever  it  arises  from  a  misinterpretation  of  the  fact  that  the  y«mng  bachelors,  ami 
probably  the  yearling  cows  as  well,  play  with  and  tease  the  pups  in  their  (irst 
attempts  to  swim.  Bachelors  were  thus  often  seen  to  shove  the  little  |)Ups  off  the 
rocks  into  the  water,  or  even  to  attempt  to  catch  and  duck  them.  But  the  pur|)ose 
was  not  to  assist  the  pups. 

What  first  starts  the  ])up  to  the  water  is  not  clear,  though  why  any  <»ther  reason 
than  the  mere  fart  that  it  nuist  eventually  learn  to  swim  and  that  the  water  is  at 
hand,  should  be  necessary,  is  not  clear.  It  may  be  that  the  lirst  pups  seek  the  wat«n' 
following  the  example  of  the  departiug  cows.  But,  «Mice  a  single  pup  has  nnule  the 
experiment,  every  pup  in  its  section  of  the  rookery  soon  follows  the  example. 

The  puj)  seeks  first  tlie  secluded  and  protecjted  tide  pools,  of  which  numbers  can 
be  found  along  the  rookery  fronts.  Here  it  paddles  about,  gradually  seeking  the  open 
water,  but  keeping  close  to  the  shore.  Its  chief  ditticultj  at  the  (tutset  is  to  keep  its 
disproportionately  large  head  above  water.  In  a  very  short  time  it  becomes  perfectly 
at  lioti.e  in  the  water  and  spends  most  of  the  daytime  in  it.  As  the  pups  are  accus- 
tomed to  play  on  shore,  so  they  play  in  the  water,  r(»lling  over  and  over  each  other, 
diving  for  shells,  shaking  strips  of  kelp,  pieces  of  sticks,  feathers,  or  anything  that 
comes  to  hand,  just  as  young  dogs  nn'ght. 

THE  EXCIRSIONS  OF   THE    PUPS. 

By  the  middle  of  September,  wIhmi  the  pups  have  learned  to  swim  well,  they  sud- 
denly develojt  a  roving  spirit  and  pass  back  and  forth  between  neighboring  rookeries, 
and  there  is  a  continuous  baud  of  pups  coming  and  going  between  them.  Thus,  siush 
a  belt  of  pups  was  fimnd  in  the  early  part  of  September  toexteml  from  Kitovi  rookery 
l)ast  East  Landing  to  Keef  rookery,  nearly  a  mile  distant.  Another  followed  around 
the  cliffs  back  of  the  village  connecting  (iorbatch  with  Lagoon,  Lagoon  was  in  like 
manner  connected  with  Tolstoi  head,  and  a  band  of  pups  stretched  on  along  the  water 
front  of  English  Bay,  uniting  Tolstoi  and  t!'e  Zapadnis. 

At  certain  points  intermediate  between  these  terminals,  the  pups  hauled  out  in 
gioups  of  varying  sizes  and  slept  on  the  rocks,  apparently  remaining  there  for  days 
and  <lays  at  a  time.  But  after  the  pups  were  branded  on  Kitovi  rookery,  observa- 
tions on  a  pod  of  these  pui)s  hauled  out  under  HIack  Hluff  showed  that  while  the 
number  in  these  <listant  places  remained  nearly  constant,  the  individuals  came  and 
went  regularly.  The  pups  doubtless  returned  to  the  rookery  to  meet  their  motheis, 
tindng  their  visits  with  her  return. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  month  of  September  these  excursions  of  the  pu|)s  ceased 
as  suddenly  as  they  began,  and  the  pups  remained  about  their  respective  rookeries 
and  in  the  waters  adjacent  to  them,  sleeping  on  shore  when  hungry,  sleeping  aud 
playing  in  the  water  when  full  of  milk. 


70 


THE    FUR   SEALS    OP   THE    PRIBILOK   ISLANDS. 


MOttTALITY  AMONG  THE  SEALS.' 

Oil  the  rookeries  but  a  slight  mortality  occurs  among  the  adult  sesils.  A  few  of 
the  cows  are  killed  in  various  ways,  chiefly  in  the  struggles  of  the  bulls  for  their 
possession.  A  total  of  131  of  these  dead  cows  was  found  on  the  rookeries  of  the 
two  islands  last  year.  A  score  or  more  of  bulls  were  found  dead  at  the  same  time, 
evidently  as  a  result  of  contests  with  one  another.  But  this  loss  in  a  herd  of 
nearly  ir*(),(HH)  adult  animals  is  insignificant. 

DEATH  OP  PUPS. 

Among  the  pups  the  mortality  is  niore  striking.  The  average  fur-seal  pup  after 
it  is  a  few  weeks  old  is  not  an  easy  animal  to  kill  or  injure.  In  our  exi)erienco  we 
have  seen  them  stand  hard  knocks  and  even  come  from  under  the  feet  of  the  bulls 
uninjured.  We  have  seen  them  tumble  oft"  and  go  bounding  down  the  cliiVs  like 
rubber  balls  without  apparent  injury.  But  when  the  little  pup  is  only  a  few  days  old 
it  is  a  very  ditterent  matter.  In  the  rushes  of  the  clumsy  bull  in  his  cttorts  to  defend 
or  discipline  his  harem  a  certain  number  of  the  little  fellows  are  crushed  to  <leath 
before  they  are  old  enough  to  get  Jiway  and  pod  by  themselves. 

THE  PARASITE  UNCINARIA. 

In  our  investigations  of  the  subject  of  mortality  among  the  pups  in  1896,  which 
were  begun  late,  we  assumed  that  the  chief  cause  of  death  among  the  11,000  pups 
counted  before  the  middle  of  August  was  the  trampling  of  the  fighting  bulls.  The 
more  thorough  investigations  of  1897,  however,  prove  this  an  error.  The  principal 
cause  of  death  was  found  to  be  a  small  parasitic  worm  of  the  genus  Uncinaria,  which 
infests  sandy  areas  where  the  seals  are  crowded  and  the  ground  has  become  filthy. 

The  embryos  of  the  worm  are  taken  in  from  the  fur  of  the  mother  by  the  nursing 
pup  and  develop  in  the  intestines,  sucking  the  blood  and  causing  the  pup  to  die  of 
ana'uiia.  It  is  an  infantile  disease,  and  those  which  do  not  die  before  the  middle  of 
August  outgrow  it  .and  survive.  After  that  time  these  natural  or  attcidental  causes 
of  death  have  but  little  effect  on  the  pups,  though,  as  we  shall  see  later  on,  another 
and  more  serious  cause  of  death  presently  begins,  namely,  the  starvation  of  the  young 
due  to  the  loss  of  the  mother  at  sea.    For  this  man  is  solely  responsible. 

THE  COUNT  OF  EAULY  DEAD  PUPS  IN  180(5. 

This  early  mortality  among  the  pups  was  made  the  object  of  a  careful  enumera- 
tion in  1896.  A  full  record  of  the  count  by  rookeries  will  be  found  in  the  stitistical 
appendix  to  this  report.  The  following  counts  of  the  "death  traps"  where  the  injury 
of  the  worm  was  greatest  will  give  some  idea  of  its  destructive  effects : 

Itecord  of  pups,  18%. 


Kookery. 


ToUtoi  (innln.  iuclnding  sand  flat). 

/apiKlii  i 

Keel 

(iorl)atcli 


Pupa  born. 


ll,77fl 
17,848 
15,258 
»,  142 


Pups  lll'ttll 

(August). 


I 


1.495 

X  095 
«50 
712 


This  Hiibject  ih  inure  fully  treated  in  a  special  paper  by  Mr.  LiicaH  in  Part  IIL 


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ENEMIES    OF   THE    FUR   SEAL. 


71 


On  the  island  of  St.  George  a  complete  census  of  tbe  dead  pups  for  both  seasons 
was  made.  This  will  illustrate  the  relative  death  rate  on  typical  rotikery  ground  from 
more  or  less  accidental  causes.  The  worm  is  practically  absent  from  the  rookeries  of 
St.  (leorge,  which  are  all  located  on  bowlder  beaches.  On  these  rookeries  there  were 
born  in  189G  about  19,000  pups;  in  1807, 10,000.  The  following  is  the  count  of  dead 
pups  by  rookeries : 

Comparative  counts  of  dead  pups,  St,  George. 


Itmikory. 

18iW. 

1 

1897. 

2U 
34 
U3 

112 
75 

Niirtli 

259 
»1 
112 
1S» 
135 

Little  East 

East .  ..             

Totiil - 

736    j 

558 

THE  DEPARTURE  OF  THE  SEALS. 

At  the  fiiisi.  ajtproach  of  winter,  usually  in  November,  the  cows  and  pups  go  away 
together.  The  pups  are  doubtless  weaned  at  this  time,  as  they  nurse  and  subsist 
solely  on  their  mothers'  milk  until  the  time  of  their  departure.  Following  the  example 
of  their  elders,  they  doubtless  soon  learn  to  subsist  on  fish.  Thoy  have  a  hard  time 
of  it  the  lirst  season  by  reason  of  the  difticulty  of  securing  food  and  because  of  the 
severity  of  the  winter  storms.  It  is  pretty  clearly  ascertained  that  only  about 
one-half  return  the  second  spring,  and  that  not  more  than  one-third  of  those  born 
reach  the  age  of  3  years. 

THE  ENEMIES  OF  THE  SEAL. 

What  enemies  the  seals  encounter  on  their  migrations  we  do  not  know.  Doubt- 
less the  greatest  cause  of  destruction  among  them  is  the  storms  of  winter,  and  these 
affect  most  strongly  the  old  or  injured  and  the  young  and  inexperienced,  which 
possibly  fail  to  secure  the  requisite  amount  of  food. 

Much  has  beeu  said  .about  the  ravages  of  certain  species  of  sharks.  Jt  is  not 
known  that  any  shark  preys  upon  them,  in  the  north  at  least.  The  (Jreat  Killer 
{Orea  oraa)  is  a  known  source  of  loss  about  the  islands.  Whether  the  killers  attack 
them  in  the  open  ocean  or  not  is  not  known,  though  't  is  probable  that  they  do  not 
to  any  great  extent. 

THE   OKEAT  KILLER. 

Killers  were  seen  in  schools  of  from  three  to  .seven  plying  about  the  islands  in 
the  latter  part  of  September,  undoubtedly  destroying  many  pups.  These  big  ttsh 
swim  into  the  bays,  which  fairly  swarm  with  seals,  old  and  young,  at  this  time. 
Their  course,  as  they  move  along  the  rookery  fronts,  is  marked  by  hovering  gulls, 
which  alight  to  pick  up.the  fragments.  The  seals  seem  absolutely  stupid  in  presence 
of  the  danger. 

On  one  occasion  after  a  raid  by  these  killers  the  carcass  of  a  mangled  cow 
was  found  washed  up  on  Zoltoi  Sands.  On  another  occasion  a  killer  in  heavy  surf 
followed  the  seals  into  Village  ('ove  and  became  stranded  on  the  rocks,  but  another 


72 


THE    PUK   SKAIiS   OF   THK    I'RIBILOF   ISLANDS. 


heavy  roller  enabled  it  to  get  away  bet'ore  steps  (jould  be  taken  to  kill  it.  One  of  its 
niantfled  victims,  a  large  gray  pu|>,  was  wasiied  ashore,  and  an  opportunity  was  thus 
given  for  its  examination. 

The  killers  are  rei>orted  to  visit  the  islands  also  in  the  spring  at  about  the  time 
of  the  landing  of  the  eows,  and  a  few  were  seen  early  in  June  in  the  spring  of  1897. 
Whatever  may  be  said  of  these  animals,  and  tlie  destruction  they  may  cause,  their 
feeding  on  the  fur  seals  can  not  be  considered  as  more  than  incidental,  else  they  would 
remain  about  the  islands  all  summer.  They  probably  do  not  depend  upon  the  seals  in 
any  way  for  food. 

'j'HK    DErARTlKK  OP   HA<!HELOUS  AND   HILLS. 

The  bachelors  still  linger  about  the  islands  after  the  departure  of  the  cows.  They 
are  taken  for  food  by  the  natives  all  through  the  month  of  Decend)er  and  at  times  far 
into  January.  On  mild  winters  they  are  to  be  seen  about  the  islands  all  winter. 
Thus,  in  the  season  of  189G-97,  a  food  drive  was  made  on  December  14,  and  seals  were 
reported  on  Sivutch  Kock  on  December  liO,  January  7  and  29,  February  6  and  16. 
Nineteen  seals  were  killed  for  food  on  the  rock  on  March  2. 

But  as  a  rule  November  closes  the  stay  of  the  seals  on  the  islands,  and,  class  by 
class,  they  set  out  on  their  winter  migrations. 

TiiE  SWIMMINU   OF  THE   SEALS. 

Tiie  fur  seal  is  wonderfully  adapted  for  its  long  winter  residence  in  the  water. 
Its  movements  are  as  quick  and  graceful  as  those  of  a  fish.  In  swimming  it  uses  the 
fore  Hippers  only.  The  hind  flippers  are  held  flat  together,  projecting  backward  liky> 
a  rudder,  and  they  may  serve  the  animal  in  that  capacity. 

There  are  abrupt  cliflfs  on  St.  Paul  Island  from  which  the  motions  of  the  swimming 
seals  can  be  wat(!hed.  A  stone  thrown  near  a  submerged  seal  causes  it  to  turn  about 
and  dart  away  w  ith  lightning  speed.  So  rapid  are  its  movements  when  thus  disturbed 
that  it  is  impossible  to  distinguish  the  motion  of  the  flippers,  which  are  jiowerful 
enough  in  the  case  of  the  bull  to  make  the  water  boil  in  foam. 

THE   RATE  OF  TRAVEL. 

In  traveling  rapidly  the  seal  alternately  rises  clear  of  the  water  and  dives  under 
it  in  a  series  of  compound  curves.  The  dolphin-like  leap,  "breaching"  as  it  is  called, 
enables  the  animal  without  loss  of  time  to  recover  its  breath.  How  fast  the  seals  can 
travel  is  not  known  and  can  probably  not  be  computed.  They  have,  however,  been 
seen  to  follow  and  swim  with  apparent  ease  about  vessels  going  at  from  19  to  12  knots 
per  hour.  Under  force  of  circumstances  they  could  doubtless  reach  a  higher  rate 
of  speed,  but  whether  it  could  be  continued  through  long  distances  can  not  be  known. 

Observations  of  the  movements  of  a  braiided  cow  on  Lukanin  rookery  in  1897 
seemed  to  indicate  that  in  her  earliest  absences  she  was  gone  from  three  to  four  days. 
As  the  feeding  grounds  in  Bering  Sea  are  upward  of  1(H)  miles  distant  from  the 
islands  some  idea  of  the  distance  she  must  have  traveled  can  be  gained.  She  would 
doubtless  spend  some  time  on  the  feeding  banks  eating  and  resting.  This  trip  the 
females  make  regularly  throughout  the  summer  at  intervals  of  from  Ave  to  ten  or  more 
days.    Further  evidence  of  the  rapidity  with  which  the  seals  travel  can  be  seen  in 


i 


THK    SOUTHERN    KUI{    SEALS. 


73 


tlie  fact  that,  tlion};h  tlio  t'uiiuilus  do  not  leave  the  ishuuls  iniicli  betbro  the  middle  of 
>oveiul)«ir,  tlu'y  are  taken  oil"  the  coast  of  Hoiithern  C'alil'ornia  in  December.  Their 
trip  down  through  tiie  o<-ean  must  be  rapid  and  more  «>r  less  direct. 

HABITS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN   FUR  SEALS. 

It  may  be  worth  our  whihs  to  '.-ontrast  witli  the  foregoinjj  actcount  of  the  fur 
seal  of  tlie  north  some  account  of  the  life  liistory  of  the  fur  .seal  of  the  Southern 
Hemisphere,  the  species  of  Arctocejthalus,  from  the  rec.'orded  observations  of  such 
early  explorers  and  sealers  as  Delano,  Fanning,  VVedell,  aiul  Morrell.  Dr.  .1.  A.  Allen 
has  brought  together  in  a  papei-,  which  appears  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Paris 
Tribunal  the  important  notes  bearing  upon  this  subject.'  Without  (pioting  in  detail 
we  may  here  give  a  brief  summary  of  the.se  observations. 

THEIR   MOVEMENTS. 

The  adult  nuiles  land  first  in  November,  taking  up  their  places  on  th(^  rookeries 
and  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  females,  which  come  iu  December  to  bring  forth  tlieir 
young.  They  come  and  go,  caring  for  their  youug,  until  about  tiie  Istof  February, 
wheu  the  pups  are  left  to  shift  for  themselves. 

In  February  the  younger  males  or  bachelors  come  on  shore  to  shed  their  hair 
which  is  accomplished  by  about  the  1st  of  May.  This  period  corresponds  to  our 
stagy  season.  The  bachelors  then  take  to  the  water  and  do  not  return  on  shore  nuich 
before  the  1st  of  .luly.  For  a  month  or  six  weeks  tliey  come  and  go  regularly, 
abandoning  the  shore  at  the  end  of  this  time  until  some  time  in  August.  For  tiie  rest 
of  the  season  mixed  herds,  young  males  and  females,  occuj)y  the  shores,  coming  and 
going  at  intervals,  until  the  old  males  begin  to  arrive  in  November.  The  young 
then  retire. 

This  seems  to  be  the  round  of  life  for  the  various  classes  as  rec^oided.  There 
is  no  lucid  ac(!Ount  of  what  becoinc^s  of  the  adult  males  and  females  after  the  offices 
of  reproduction  are  accomplished.  The  bulls  are  reported  as  lasting  from  tlie  tinu^  of 
their  arrival  until  the  breeding  season  is  over,  when  they  leave  thin  and  lean,  to  return 
the  following  season  plump  and  fat. 

THEY   DO  NOT  MIOUATE. 

It  is  asserted  that  the  seals  (h»  not  migrate,  though  the  record  of  observations 
seem  to  indicate  that  certain  classes  of  the  animals  are  absent  from  their  breeding 
places  for  longer  or  shorter  periods.  While  some  of  the  animals  are  about  the  shores 
at  all  seasons,  the  evidence  seems  to  show  that  they  aie  of  different  classes  and  liavo 
ditl'erent  periods  of  movement. 

11REEI)IN(I  HAHITS. 

The  ofhces  of  reproduction  are  accomplished  on  land.  The  female  bears,  as  a 
rule,  a  single  pup,  though  suggestions  of  the  i)ossibility  of  twins  and  even  triplets 
are  offered.  The  young  are  helpless  at  birth  and  learn  to  swim  about  a  uionth 
afterwards.  It  isfreely  suggested  that  the  mothers  teach  them.  The  i»up  at  birth  is 
covered  with  black  hair.  It  gets  its  fur  and  changes  its  black  hair  for  a  coat  of  gray 
in  a  mouth  or  six  weeks. 


'  Appendix  U.  S.  Ouhi',  Kiir  Seal  Arli.,  Vol.  I.  p.  ;!7.'). 


1 


74 


THK    FUR    SEALS   OF   THE    PBIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


UIlEEDINlt    (JUOUNDH. 

Tliu  8L>iils  u(;(;u|>y  for  their  brcediug  pliutus  narrow  bowlder  b<*iu;lics  at  tlio  toot 
of  lii};]i  din's  and  extend  their  liareing  into  the  crevasHOS  and  cinuinels  in  tin;  t'iill's 
tlironfrh  whicii  streams  (low.  In  phices  their  breeding;  (frounds  ext<Mid  inhmd  one  or 
two  hundred  yards.  'Fiie  aninnils  chimbur  over  the  rocivs,  reaciiing  {daces  iiuiecessible 
to  num.    Tlicy  have  good  ])owers  of  locomotion,  and  the  young  walk  on  all  fours. 

In  (dimati(!  conditions  the  home  of  the  soutliern  fur  seals  resend)les  that  of 
the  northern,  though  there  is  not  the  same  marked  difl'crence  between  summer  and 
winter.  Doubtless  there  is  no  migration  because  no  necessity  for  it.  An  average 
annual  tem])cratur(>.  of  from  4(P  to  45°  is  recorded,  which  is  about  the  summer 
clinuite  of  the  Pribilof  Islands.  The  sky  is  almost  constantly  overcast.  Uain  falls 
daily. 

The  fur  seals  of  the  south  are  gregarious  and  herd  closely  (srowded  on  their 
rookery  grounds,  class  by  class.  The  young  nniles  are  forced  to  withdraw  by  them- 
selves in  the  breeding  season. 

THE  FKHITINa  OP  THE  UTTLLH. 

The  bulls  struggle  with  one  another  for  possession  of  the  (-ows  as  they  land. 
Each  harem  has  from  fifteen  to  twenty  cows.  These  are  ,jeah>n8ly  guarded  and  are 
not  permitted  to  leave.  The  bulls  light  valiantly  against  intrusion,  whether  by  one 
of  their  own  number  or  by  num. 

There  is  the  same  disparity  between  the  nuiles  aiul  females.  The  former  is 
recorded  as  (i  to  7  feet  long,  the  Iatt«r  about  4,  with  a  corresponding  diflerence  in 
weight. 

They  are  found  sleeping  and  playing  in  the  water.  Just  as  the  fur  seals  of  the 
north  are,  and  it  is  reported  easy  to  approa<'h  and  spear  them. 

DIFFEUENCE  IN   TIME   OF  BIRTH. 

It  may  be  worthy  to  note  in  this  connection  that  Capt.  W.  L.  Noyes,  who  visited 
the  (ialai>agos  Islands  during  the  summer  of  1897,  found  cows  with  pui)8  already 
born  in  -Inly  on  Wenman  Island,  just  north  of  the  etpiator,  whereas  cows  on  other 
islands  of  the  same  group  to  the  south  of  the  equator,  killed  in  September,  contained 
pups  still  unborn  and  ai)parently  not  to  be  boru  until  October  or  November.  The 
seals  of  these  islands  are  reported  by  others  to  bring  forth  their  young  at  all  seasons. 

There  is,  however,  no  essential  difference  in  the  habits  of  the  seals  of  the  two 
hemisidieres.  The  differences  in  date  of  the  stagy  season  and  of  the  breeding  season 
are  matters  dependent  upon  the  climate.  The  absence  of  migration  periods  so  marked 
as  in  the  case  of  the  northern  seals  is  due  to  the  absence  of  such  harsh  conditions  as 
the  winter  of  the  north  exhibits. 


♦ 


C'lIAPTKU    VI, 

THE  CONDITION  OF  THE  FUR-SEAL  HERD. 

A.  PAST  CONDITIONS. 

We  liiivc  {jivoii  ill  the  piecediiifj  skotcili  a  brief  duHcriptioii  of  tlie  more  prominent 
frencM'iil  r«iitur(!H  of  tlie  life  history  of  the  fur  seal.  Tliis  is  only  a  brief  siiiniiiary  of 
the  record  of  daily  observations  made  by  the  conimissioii,  and  wliieli  is  ^nven  in  full 
in  a  siibseiiuent  jiart  of  tliis  rejiort.  Many  of  tliese  topics  also  are  dis<Missed  in 
greater  detail  in  special  ]>ap«^rs  contained  in  Part  HI.  We  may  now  pass  to  a 
discussion  of  the  main  questions  involved  in  the  fur-seal  controversy  and  made  the 
principal  object  of  this  invcstij^^ation.  The  first  and  chief  of  these  relates  to  the 
condition  of  the  fur-seal  herd,  past  and  luesent. 

AOKEAOK   MKASUllKMENTS. 

I'ntil  the  season  of  IH'.Hi  all  estimates  as  to  the  nuniber  of  seals  have  been  based 
upon  acreage  nieasureinciits  of  one  sort  or  another.  In  the  early  days,  when  the 
rookeries  were  teeming  with  seal  life,  it  is  probable  that  any  otherinethod  of  enuinera- 
tioii  would  have  been  exceedingly  diilicult,  if  not  impossible.  At  any  rate,  no  other 
method  was  tried. 

We  may  say  at  the  outset  that  acreage  measurements  of  rookery  population  are 
exceedingly  unsatisfac^tory.  It  is  no  easy  task  to  llnd  the  area  of  'i  given  rookery. 
Its  length  or  sea  front  is  easily  ascertained,  but  its  average  widtii  is  at  best  purely  a 
matter  of  conjecture.  It  spreads  out  over  the  level  ground,  shrinks  away  from  a  sand 
beach,  climbs  up  hills  in  gullies,  extends  over  cliffs,  breaks  at  a  cove  to  iierinit  bachelors 
to  land,  thins  out  among  rocks,  and  widens  in  great  amphitheaters.  Its  lower  boundary 
fluctuates  with  the  tides;  its  inland  extension  grows  daily  with  the  arrival  of  late- 
coming  cows,  and  the  whole  outline  is  (;lianged  iu  a  few  days  as  the  bands  of  virgin 
2-year-olds  come  into  the  ranks  late  in  July. 

THE  DIFFICULTY   OF  ACCURATE  RESILTS. 

To  measure  a  rookery,  it  is  necessary  to  determine  its  boundaries  from  a  distance 
in  the  breeding  season,  and  after  the  departure  of  t-he  seals  to  go  on  the  ground  and 
make  the  necessary  measurements.  It  is  impossible  to  approach  the  breeding  mass 
in  the  height  of  the  season  near  enough  to  locate  landmarks  by  which  the  person 
making  the  measurements  is  to  determine  what  he  is  doing.  The  best  that  can  be 
done  is  to  take  the  natural  features  available,  a  stone  here  or  a  break  in  the  bank,  or 
a  log  of  driftwood  there,  and  trust  to  being  able  to  relocate  them  later  on.  The  occu- 
pancy of  the  seals  -themselves  leaves  no  permanent  trace.  Behind  the  rookeries  for  a 
consideriible  distance  the  ground  has  exactly  the  same  appearance  as  that  occupied 
by  the  seals,  and  late  in  the  season  the  rookery  population,  where  possible,  moves 
back  over  its  rear  boundary,  taking  up  a  new  position.    Only  natural  landmarks  can 

75 


i 


76 


TIIK    FUR    SEALS   t)K   THE   PKIIULOF    ISLANDS. 


tli(M-<>t<)i'<>  li«t  titkuii,  mill  ill  u  iiiilu  of  rookfiy  spiict^  tliu  iiiniilutr  of  iliMtiiigiiisliiiblu 
null  Us  (»f  I  his  sort  is  t'.\cc«(liiiKly  siiiall.  WIumo  stones  iixist,  tiuTO  uro  tiioiismids  of 
tiit'iii  piarliciilly  iii(listiii;;iiisiiulile.  On  baru  slo|i«;s,  as  on  <ioi'batuii,  \  ostoclini,  and 
I'oloviiia,  tliui'u  arc  no  natural  laiuliiiarlis  wliatt'vor. 

TIIK   AIISBNrE   (»l'   REI-1\III.K   SIHVKVhI. 

If  poiffctly  reco^ni/.ablo.  artitlcial  landmarks  could  bu  plactid  at  every  an^le,  turn, 
and  ])r(>ie(;tion  of  tbo  belt  of  broedinjj;  seals,  or  if  these  points  couitl  be  taken  from  a 
distance  by  instruineiitHand  then  reproduced  with  certainty  in  tlic  same  manner  after 
tiie  animals  have  left  the  ^'round,  accurate  results  mi^^ht  be  obtained.  Nothing'  of 
this  kind,  however,  was  done,  at  least  no  landmarks  remain  to  show  for  it. 

THE  IRRKOULAB  NATURK  OK  THE  (»R()UN1). 

liut  a  determination  of  the  rookery  Itordcrs  is  not  the  only  ditticnlty.  The 
character  of  the  (ground  is  extremely  variable.  It  lies  at  every  coii(;eivable  aii^i'le 
and  slant.  Tiiere  are  narrow,  rocky  beaches  hemmed  in  by  perpendicular  clitls. 
Tliere  are  loiiff  slopes  of  jajjyed  bowlders.  There  are  sand  Hats  and  cinder  slopes. 
On  the  bare  places  tiie  seals  still  mass  together  as  closely  as  they  can  be  <M'owded, 
and  ou  the  rocky  areas  they  lie  about  among  the  rocks  as  best  they  can.  Their 
distribution  over  the  rookeries  is  as  irregular  as  the  nature  of  the  ground. 

It  is  in  general  true  tliat  the  greater  the  uuiuber  of  females  the  more  extended  are 
the  boiiiularies  of  the  rookeries;  but  it  is  also  true  that  with  the  decrease  of  the 
number  of  seals  tiie  po|)ulation  of  the  rookeries  grows  sjiarse  without  a  corresponding 
decrease  of  dimensions.  It  is  probable  that  when  the  seals  were  more  numerous 
they  were  as  evenly  distributed  over  the  ground  as  its  nature  would  ]u  ait,  and 
the  greater  part  of  each  rookery  was  ch»sely  massed;  but  at  the  present  me  their 
distribntion  is  vcny  irregular,  as  une<|nal  as  the  arrangement  of  the  tids  in  the 
forest.  On  some  of  the  rookeries,  as  on  Tolstoi  sands,  in  the  breeding  season  tht^ 
seals  lie  as  thick  as  swarms  of  bees.  On  otlier  rookeries,  as  the  Lagoon,  detached 
harems  sprawl  over  the  rocks  and  individual  seals  are  greatly  scattered.  Nor  are 
the  mechanical  imperfection  of  tiiese  estimates  all.  The  counts  of  live  pups  made 
during  the  seas(»ns  of  1896  and  181)7  slutw  that  at  the  time  when  these  past  estimates 
were  made  not  more  than  half  of  the  cows  are  present  at  any  one  time. 

ACRBiGE  MEASUREMENTS  CHIEFLY   (lUESSWORK. 

In  a  word,  the  acreage  measurements  of  the  rookeries  in  the  past  have  been  based 
chietly  upon  guesswork.  More  guessing  has  been  done  in  determining  the  space  to 
be  assigned  to  individual  animals,  and  finally  tlM*'  rookery  population  sought  to  be 
enumerated  has  at  best  represented  only  about  half  the  actual  number  of  animals 
belonging  to  the  herd.  The  last  element  of  uncertainty  was  not  known  until  189(i,  it 
having  been  assumed  up  to  that  time  that  during  the  period  between  the  lOth  and 
l-'Oth  of  .Jnly  all  or  practically  all  the  animals  belonging  to  the  breeding  herd  were 
present  upon  the  rookeries. 

THE  MAGNITUDE  OF  THE  PROHLEM. 

It  is  easy  to  find  in  the  magnitude  of  the  problem  an  explanation  for  the  adoption 
of  su<'li  a  fiinlty  method.    It  is  not  so  easy  to  tind  an  excuse  for  iin)>licit  reliance 


< 


ESTIMATKS    OK    NUMHEB   OF    FUR    8KALS. 


77 


I 


-. 
y 


put  ii|H)ii  its  rt'siiUs.  Tluf  partn  of  mokeiios  wliifli  fan  h<f  coinitcd  to  <liiy  :ir«^  ho 
I'irciiiiiHcrilioil  l»y  flitl'H  aixl  the  iiarrowiit'SH  of  tlie  IhmicIii'h  tliat  to  iiniku  ii  coiiiit  of 
Mu'iii,  i^Vfii  lit  tlif  tiiiif  of  Whi  >jr»'at»'nt  <l«*nsity  of  their  popnlaiion,  woiilil  liavf  hccii 
hut  littlo  iiu>i'e  Winiciill  than  it  isUxhiy.  Mor«^  st-als  wt-ii^  prcsi'iit  on  a  (jivcii  ar*>a, 
hut  tht«  area  was  ii<»  creator.  Tht^  rountin^r  of  thoH<!  iirtniH  woiihl  of  coiiihu  not  havi' 
i'<'li«;vc<l  tlie  dilliciilty  as  to  a  (toniph'tf  ccnsas;  hut  a  dellnitu  and  oxart  eniinu'ration, 
(tvon  of  Hu  snuill  an<l  atcossil)]**  a  br(>edin;;  ;;i'ound  as  Hpiiki,  in  1H7(,  could  not  have 
faih-d  to  fioar  up  many  of  tin;  prohltMiis  wiiifh  havf  tended  to  inerease  the  confusion 
in  past  comlitions. 

KAWLV    r.STI MAIMS. 

In  i;onsidei'in;{  the  various  estimates  of  earlier  times,  we  purposely  |)aHs  over  that 
of  liishop  N'eniaminof.  It  is  too  vague  and  unsatisfactory  to  he  oi  any  value.  It 
is,  moreover,  a  propliecy  of  future  results,  based  on  assumed  itremises,  rather  than  u 
measure  of  actual  conditions.  Furthermore,  it  was  nuvde  at  a  time  (about  l.S.'{  t)  when, 
as  we  know,  the  herd  had  rcaidicd  from  some  cause  or  other  a  state  of  approximate 
annihilation. 

OAJ'TAIN    MWYANT's  KSTIMATK. 

After  the  islands  came  into  the  possession  of  tht^  I'liited  States  the  tirst  attemjit 
to  reach  an  estimate  of  the  number  of  seals  w  is  made  by  (.'apt.  Charles  Hryant,  agtMit 
of  the  (it)vernmeiit,  sent  in  bSti!)  to  investigate  the  condition  of  the  herd.  Captain 
Bryant  sums  up  his  method  of  enumeration  a.'^  folhtws:' 

TliKie  lire  iit  loast  ll.'  iiiilt's  of  Hboru  liiiu  on  the  islaiiil  of  St.  I'liiil   iiiciiiiiuil   liy  llio  hi'iiIs  ;is 

liruoiliug  grouiuU,  with  the  uveru);«  width  ol'  tr-  ioiIn,  'I'heru  lieiii){  iilmiit  twunty  huiiIs  t,i>  tlio  H(|ii:ir*t 

roil,  KivuH  1,152,000  as  thr  wliiile  iiiiiiiImt  of  ))ri'e<liii);  iiiiiIcb  mikI  I'eniali'H.  Doiliirtiiig  iine-tenth  tor 
iinileH  leaves  1,01?", SOO  lireiMtiiiK  IViiinles. 

lie  estimates  the  iiumiter  of  seals  on  St.  (iecuge  at  one-half  the  number  on  St. 
Paul.  He  further  makes  a  rough  estimate  of  the  iuind>er  of  nonbreeding  males,  but 
he  does  not  work  itoutor  give  a  total.  In  (;omparing  the  estimate  of  Captain  llryant 
Avitli  the  subsequent  estimate  of  Mr.  Klliott  it  must  be  noted  that  the  young  are  not 
included. 

THE   I'lBST   A('1!EA(JE  ENTTMEUATION. 

This  estimate  is  crude  both  in  its  methods  and  in  its  nssults,  but  it  certainly 
contains  the  germ  of  all  subsequent  acreage  estimates  of  the  seals.  It  was  made  and 
its  results  were  published  at  least  two  years  before  the  work  <»f  Mr.  Elliott,  which 
was  begun  in  187U.  Whatever  credit,  therefore,  belongs  to  the  invention  and  execution 
of  this  method  of  arriving  at  the  population  of  the  rookeries  must  rest  with  Captain 
liryant.  His  enumeration,  though  but  a  rough  ap|)ro\imation,  and  probably  so 
considered  by  him,  brought  for  the  first  time  the  fur-seal  herd  within  the  range  of  a 
numerical  estimate. 

ELLIOTT'S  K.STIMATi;  <il'  1H-1>-1S7I. 

The  next  attempt  at  enumeration  was  made  in  1872-1874  by  Henry  W.  ICIliott, 
special  agent  sent  by  the  United  States  Treasury  Department  to  investigate  the  con- 
dition of  the  herd.    He  followed  the  same  general  method  inaugurated  by  Captain 


'  Hull.  Miis.  Comp.  Zool.,  1870,  Vol.  II,  p.  100. 


78 


THE    F'JR    SEALS   OK    THE    I'KIUILOF   ISLANDS. 


liryaiit,  tiudiii};  the  alioie  extent  iiiid  width  of  the  rookeries  and  allottin^r  a  certain 
space  to  each  individual  animal.  He,  however,  worked  out  the  i)Iau  in  much  greater 
detail. 

IMPORTANT  ASSUMPTIONS. 

In  Mr.  Elliott's  census  two  important  assumptions  are  made  at  tiie  outset.  The 
first  is  that  the  time  when  the  rook<jr.y  population  lias  reached  its  "exact  margin  of 
exi)ansion,  at  the  week  of  its  greatest  volume,  or  when  the  rookeries  are  as  full  as 
they  are  to  be  during  the  season,  is  between  the  lOtli  and  liOth  of  July  every  year;  not 
a  day  earlier  and  not  many  days  later."  '  Mr.  Elliott  assumes  as  a  result  of  this  obser- 
vation that  at  tiie  period  in  question  all,  or  practically  all,  of  the  animals  were  present 
and  would  be  included  in  an  enumeration  made  at  that  time. 

THE   LAW  OF  UlSTUIIUTiON. 

lie  then  assumed^  "an  imjierative  and  instinctive  law  of  distribution,  recognized 
by  each  and  every  seal,"  in  obedience  to  which  "the  breeding  grounds  occupied  by 
them  were  invariably  covered  with  seals  in  exact  ratio,  greater  or  less,  as  the  area 
upon  wfiich  they  rested  was  larger  or  smaller;"  that  the  seals  "always  covered  the 
ground  evenly,  never  crowding  in  at  one  place  here  to  scatter  (mt  there;"  that  "on  a 
rod  of  ground  under  the  face  of  blutts,  which  hem  it  in  from  the  sea,  there  are  just  as 
many  seals,  no  more  nor  less,  as  will  be  found  on  any  other  rod  of  rookery  ground 
throughout  the  whole  list,  great  or  small." 

'JOTIl   ASSIMI'TIONS  lN('ORRE(!T. 

One  who  is  familiar  with  the  nature  of  the  breeding  grounds  can  not  help  feeling 
that  in  the  formulation  of  this  law  Mr.  Elliott  did  not  have  the  picture  of  the 
rookeries  before  him.  Had  he  traveled  over  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  rookeries, 
as  was  done  in  1890  and  1897,  he  never  would  have  proposed  sufih  a  law.  That  there 
should  be  as  many  seals  to  the  square  rod  on  the  jagged  and  broken  lava  blocks  of 
Kitovi,  or  on  the  broken  slopes  of  Gorbatch,  where  the  aninuils  are  now  and  must  have 
then  been  separated  by  bowlders  weighing  tons,  should  be  the  sanie  as  on  the  smooth 
sand  Hat  of  Tolstoi  or  the  level  slope  of  Hutchinson  Hill  is  on  the  face  of  it  impossible. 

THE   TRUE  LAW  OF  DISTRIHUTIOX. 

The  law  of  distribution  which  the  fur  seal  obeys  is  very  simple.  The  gregarious 
instinct  o*"  the  animals  leads  them  to  crowd  together  as  closely  as  possible.  They  are, 
therefore,  even  now  to  be  found  in  as  close  proximity  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  will 
permit.  Where  the  ground  is  broken  and  interspersed  with  angular  bowlders  they 
are  necessarily  farther  apart  than  where  the  ground  is  free  from  obstructions.  It  is 
l)robable  that  in  Mr.  Elliott's  time  the  seals,  because  more  numerous,  were  more  evenly 
distributed,  but  the  nature  of  the  ground  would  never  permit  the  same  distribution 
everywhere. 

STAIULITY   OF  ROOKERY   CONDITIONS   ONLY  Al'PAUENT. 

For  the  first  assumption  Mv.  Elliott  las  some  justification.  During  the  period  in 
question  rookery  conditions  are  to  the  eye  of  the  observer  apparently  stable  and  fixed. 


t 


J 


' 


Elliott,  Mouui^riipk  Fur-Seal  lalimils,  1K8I,  p.  50. 


'Uml.,  II.  4!>. 


I 


ESTIMATES   OF   MR.    ELLIOTT. 


79 


|: 


Tliat  they  were  so  was  held  as  a  tradition  from  Elliott's  time  down  to  1.S96.  It  was, 
however,  a  great  mistake  to  assume,  as  has  been  done,  that  at  that  time  all  the  seals 
were  pre.sc  't.  Counts  of  live  pups'  made  in  the  seasons  of  189G  and  1897  show  that  at 
the  height  of  the  season  not  over  half  of  the  cows  are  luttually  present  at  any  one  time. 
The  apparent  stability  of  the  rookeries  is  due  to  the  fact  that  then  the  arrivals  and 
departures  among  the  cows  lor  a  time  practically  balance!  ea<'h  other  at  their  maximum 
point.  Hut  daily  counts  of  the  rookeries  show  that  the  stability  is  in  no  sense  real, 
there  being  from  day  to  day  even  then  a  variation  of  from  10  to  .50  per  cent  in  the 
rookery  population.^ 

UKSUI.TS   Ol'    MR.   ELLKtTT'S   KNUMKIIATION. 

But  of  those  things  Mr.  IClliott  was  not  aware.  He  was  content  to  assume  that 
all  tiie  cows  were  there  and,  moreover,  though  lie  could  not  locate  the  virgin  2-year- 
olds,  a  (ilass  of  animals  numbering,  in  his  estimate,  220,000,  which  weie  not  present 
until  long  after  it  was  nuule,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  assume  that  they  were  included, 
lie  was  also  content  with  his  impossible  law  of  distribution.  Itonly  remained  for  him, 
therefore,  to  find  tiie  area  of  breeding  ground  occupied  and  to  divide  it  by  the  4init  of 
space  to  be  assigned  to  each  imlividual  animal,  to  arrive  at  the  rookery  population. 
As  a  result  he  found,  in  his  estimate  of  0,380,840  scpiare  feet  of  rt)okery  ground  on  the 
two  islands,  "room,''  as  he  puts  it,  "  for  3,193,420  breeding  seals  and  young."  ' 

TUi;   FKrlUKS   INREASONAULK. 

Waiving,  tor  a  mon:<(nt,  the  method  of  obtaining  these  ligures,  we  may  renuirk 
that  they  are  not  easy  to  Jinderstand.  Of  this  total  of  '*  breeding  seals  and  young," 
Mr.  Klliott,  in  the  same  connection,  tells  us  that  1,0(K),0(M)  are  "young."  There  must 
then  be  an  equal  number  of  mothers,  or  2,000,000  adult  breeding  females  .and  their 
pups.  To  this  must  be  added  the  young  2-year-old  cows  which  are  included,  though 
not  present.  Mr.  Klliott  has  himself  given  us  an  estimate  of  these.  Considering, 
that  of  the  1,000,000  pups  born  500,000  are  fenuiles,  he  says  that  "at  least  22r»,(KM>  of 
them  safely  return  in  the  second  season  after  birth."  This,  therefore,  gives  us  a  total 
of  2,225,000  females  and  young  in  the  complete  estimate  of  3,193,420,  leaving  8(i8,420 
animals  which  can  only  be  accounted  for  as  breeding  bulls.  This  is  impossible,  and 
yet  no  other  explanation  of  the  discrepancy  is  at  hand.  Mr.  Elliott  estimates,  in  a 
separate  category,  all  the  nonbreeding  males  and  the  yearling  females,  finding 
l,."tOO,0()0  of  then».  Of  the  breeding  bulls,  as  a  class,  Mr.  Elliott  does  not  give  us  a 
separate  estimate  in  1872.  l>nt  in  1890  he  tells  us  thev  numbered  90,000  at  that  time. 

TIIK   METHOD  OK   ENIMEUATION    FAILTV. 

lJ.it  if  these  ligures  were  in  themselves  reasonable,  we  must  still  take  exception  to 
the  method  by  which  they  were  obtained.  We  have  alioady  spoken  of  the  general 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  acreage  measurements.  On  his  method  of  surveying  the 
rookeries  Mr.  Elliott  has  given  us  practically  no  <lata.  He  dismisses  the  subject 
with  tho  remark  "tliat  there  is  no  nnn-e  difficulty  in  surveying  these  margins  than 
there  is  in  drawing  sight  along  the  curbs  of  a  stone  fence  surrounding  a  held,"  a 
statement  which  is  not  by  any  means  self-evident  to  anyone  who  has  visited  the 

'  See  pagu  lOit.        -Sco  pan"'  54,         'EUiolt,  Monugraph  of  Kur-Sriil  Isluuda,  1881,  \t.  (il. 


80 


THE    FUR    8KALS    OK   THK    PHIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


fur-seal  rookeries.  The  surveys  of  the  ruokeiies  tlieiuselves  ciiii  not  be  verified,  for 
the  conditions  have  elnin^^ed  with  the  reduction  of  the  herd,  and  no  pernumeiit  hind- 
Hiai'ks  were  left.  Not  even  of  tlie  survey  of  IS'JO  is  then*  h'ft  a  sinjfle  recofjnizalde 
stake  or  stone  to  siiow  that  it  ever  existed.  All  that  is  left  of  either  survey  is 
the  unsatisfactory  estimate  of  the  seals  based  tipou  it.  These  surveys  should 
have  formed  the  basis  for  subsequent  comparisons  of  the  (U)ndition  of  the  rookeries. 
As  such  they  would  have  been  extremely  vsiluable,  but  all  traces  of  them  have 
disappeared. 

TlIK  SURVIOVS  (AN    X(lT  BE   VKKIFIKI). 

It  is  th«!refore  not  possible  for  us  to  verify  Mr.  l-^lliott's  surveys  of  the  rookeries, 
but  his  maps  ((iving  the  shore  line  of  the  islands  are  available  ah  a  measure  of  his 
work  as  a  surveyor.  Of  these  majts  Ca])taiu  Moser,  in  his  hydrograjthic  report'  on 
the  islands  in  18i»(i,  made  certain  tests.  Of  Mv.  Klliott's  shore  Hue  he  says:  "It  was 
a  bad  raistit  •  ♦  ♦  and  rarely  stood  the  test  of  an  instrumental  angle."  He 
further  says  of  the  topography  of  the  maps  that  "  it  is  so  vague  and  indefinite  that 
it  is  next  thing  to  impossible  to  do  anything  with  them;  1  should  call  them  sketches." 
If  this  is  true  of  the  fixed  and  permanent  shore  line,  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that 
the  changing  rookery  margins,  which  were  necessarily  noted  from  a  distance  in  the 
summer  and  measured  in  winter,  after  they  had  melted  away,  were  more  correctly 
located. 

THE  EFFECT  OK  INACdRATK   SIRVEVS. 

The  correctness  of  the  survey  of  the  rookeries  is  of  vital  importance  to  the 
accuracy  of  this  enumeration.  This  importance  does  not  lie  in  ascertaining  the 
mere  length  of  a  given  rookery.  This  can  be  easily  obtained,  and  in  any  event  a 
mistake  of  a  few  feet  or  of  a  hundred  teet  in  the  length  is  comparatively  insignificant; 
but  the  width  of  the  rookery  is  another  matter.  To  each  one  of  seven  of  the  ten 
rookeries  of  St.  Paul  Island,  Mr.  Elliott  ascribes  an  even  average  width  of  150  feet. 
Two  of  the  remaining  breeding  grounds  have  a  width  of  100  feet  each,  and  the  third 
40  feet.  Therefore,  for  the  40,000  feet  of  rookery  shore  line  on  this  island,  .'{5,000  have 
an  average  width  of  150  feet.*  Suppose  there  is  an  error  of  but  1  foot  in  this  average 
width,  it  is  multiplied  throughout  the  entire  distance.  According  to  the  ujethod  of 
the  computation  involved  this  would  mean  the  addition  or  subtraction  of  17,500 
animals,  depending  upon  the  side  upon  which  the  error  falls.  Again,  suppose  the 
aversige  width  was  140  or  Itji)  feet,  this  would  mean  a  difference  of  175,000  seals  one 
way  or  the  other,  as  Lae  case  might  be. 

AN   INADEQUATE   UNIT  OF  SPACE. 

But  aside  from  tlie  <|uestion  of  accuracy  in  Mie  surveys  themselves,  Mr.  Elliott 
has  assigned  an  impossible  space  to  each  individual  seal.  His  unit  of  space  is  2 
scpiare  feet  to  each  animal,  young  or  old,  or  4  square  feet  for  the  cows,  ignoring  the 

'  Hytlrogi'iiphic  Notes,  Captain  Moser,  Kiirt  III. 

■  Whatever  the  averagu  width  of  eacli  rookery  may  have  been,  it  is  certain  that  it  was  not  tlie 
Baiu"  for  all.  Neither  now  nor  at  any  past  time  have  TolHtoi,  Polovina,  X'ostoclmi,  the  Ri'i'f,  Kitovi, 
Liikanin,  anil  Zapatlni  had  the  same  "average  width."    The  150  t'cet  is  a  guess,  and  that  only. 


1 

I 


t 


wramussxPttsmr^' 


ESTIMATES   OF    NUMHEK8. 


81 


•-M 


pups.  Tlie  avenif^e  adult  female  is  4  feet  long,  niul  iiieiisurcs  an  equal  distance  from 
tii>  to  tip  of  ber  outstretched  fore-tlippers.  In  a  standing  position  she  would  need  at 
least  3  square  feet,  but  as  the  cows  are  constantly  moving  about,  and  cowing  and 
going  to  and  from  the  sea,  it  is  impossible  to  limi*:'  one  to  such  a  space. 

A  3IOUE  RATIONAL   UNIT  OF  SPACE. 

During  the  past  two  seasons  an  eflort  was  made  to  test  the  unit  of  space  which 
the  average  seal  occupies.  A  count  of  050  closely  crowded  dead  bodies  on  Polovina 
killing  ground  showed  that  each  body  occupied  a  space  of  13A  scjuare  feet.  The 
arrangement  and  proximity  of  these  bodies  corresponded  very  nearly  to  the  condition 
of  the  massed  rookery  where  the  animals  are  stretched  out  sleeping.  On  Ardiguen 
rookery  a  harem  containing  thirty  three  sleeping  cows  and  pups  was  observed  on  a 
flat  space  circumscribed  by  stones  in  such  a  way  that  its  boundaries  could  be  definitely 
k)cated.  Later  in  the  season,  when  the  seals  had  abandoned  the  sjiot,  it  was  measured 
and  found  to  give  8  square  feet  to  each  animal,  old  and  young.  This  may  be  regarded 
as  an  example  of  extreme  nmssing,  as  the  animals  could  not  have  been  packed  closer 
together.  The  great  sand  flat  of  Tolstoi,  the  most  densely  massed  rookery  ground  on 
the  islands,  was  roughly  measured  hite  in  the  season  of  189G  and  found  to  contain 
about  140,000  square  feet.  Each  of  the  11,000  animals  estimated  for  this  area 
would  therefore  have  a  space  of  about  13  square  feet.  Messrs.  True  and  Townsend, 
in  189."),  found  the  average  space  for  each  individual  adult  seal  in  unmassed  areas, 
as  on  Lagoon  or  Tolstoi  clitt's,  to  be  40  square  feet.  For  the  massed  areas  a  space 
one-half  as  great,  or  L'3  square  feet,  was  arbitrarily  assumed. 

It  is  true  that  Mr.  Elliott  justifies,  in  part,  his  small  unit  of  space  by  certain 
references  to  the  coming  and  going  of  the  animals.  Ue  asserts  that  after  the  pups 
are  born  the  individual  cows  are  not  on  "their  allotted  space  one-fourth  of  the  time,"' 
and  that  the  females  "almost  double  their  number  on  the  rookery  ground  without 
expanding  its  original  limits."  Hut  Mr.  Elliott  failed  to  grasp  what  this  really 
meant.  He  sees  in  it  only  justification  for  the  unit  of  space  which  he  has  assigned 
to  the  individual  animals.  It  should  have  called  his  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
breeding  seals  which  he  saw  before  him,  and  which  he  was  attempting  to  enumerate, 
were  but  a  part  and  not  the  whole  of  the  rookerv  population. 


il 


THE  ESTIMATE  FOll  KITOVI  AND  LUKANIN   BOOKEUIES. 

When  w(!  leave  the  general  features  of  this  estimate  and  come  to  consider  its 
di  tails  we  find  still  less  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  it.  Of  all  the  rookeries  Kitovi  and 
Lukanin  have  been  most  minutely  studied  and  counted  during  the  seasons  of  1890  and 
1897.  Their  present  conditions  are  absolutely  known.  They  may  be  taken  as  typical 
examples.  To  these  two  rookeries  in  1874  Mr.  EKiott  ascribes  a  total  itopulation  of 
33r),000  "breeding  seals  and  young,"  or  158,000  breeding  females,  and,  using  his 
estimate  of  15  cows  to  an  average  harem,  10,00()  active  bulls.  At  present  there  are 
318  bulls,  or  less  than  one-thirtieth  the  former  number,  and  9,000  breeding  females, 
less  than  one-seventeenth  the  former  number. 

To  anyone  who  understands  the  situation  of  these  rookeries  this  is  simjtly  absurd. 
It  would  be  impossible  to  plat  10,000  harems  on  the  space  they  occupy  at  present  or 
ir,184 0 


1 


82 


THK    FUR   SEALS   OF   THE   PRIUILOF    ISLANDS. 


i 


wliicb  tliey  occupied  at  any  time  past.  Mr.  Klliott's  own  maps  show,  when  conijjared 
with  present  conditions,  that  no  such  reduction  has  occurred.  Qis  average  widtli  of 
150  feet  for  these  rookeries  proves  the  same  thing.  With  such  figures  notltiug  can  be 
done.  Mr.  li^lliott  must  have  been  wholly  devoid  of  mathematical  sense  or  else  must 
have  failed  to  appreciate  what  his  figures  really  m^ant.  No  other  hyjiothesis  will 
account  for  them. 

X  MKASl'RE   OF  ELLIOTT'S  OVERESTIMATE. 

It  happens  that  in  the  log  of  St.  Paul  are  two  references  to  these  rookeries  which 
throw  light  on  their  early  condition  and  help  us  to  penetrate  the  ha/.e  of  exaggeration 
which  Mr.  KUiott  has  thrown  about  them. 

Under  date  of  May  U4,  1880,  Mr.  J.  W.  Beaman,  then  agent  on  St.  Taul,  records 
in  the  log'  of  that  island  that  he  made  "an  inspection  of  Kitovi  and  Lukanin  rook- 
eries; llL'  bulls  were  counted  on  Kitovi  and  142  on  Lukanin,  with  a  possible  error  in 
the  count  of  2.5  to  50."' 

On  the  24th  of  May  by  no  means  all  of  the  bulls  were  in  place,  but  a  reasonable 
l)roportion  of  them  may  be  supposed  to  have  been.  Mr.  Klliott  tells  us  himself  that 
all  the  bulls  were  located  by  the  1st  of  June.  This,  however,  the  observations  of  the 
season  of  1897  disprove.  A  count  of  North  rookery  of  St.  George  on  June  7  gave  180 
bulls,  where  about  200  harems  existed  in  189(5  ami  where  19(i  were  found  a  month  later 
ill  1897.  Kven  on  the  12th  of  June  <i  count  of  bulls  on  Kitovi  rookery  gave  only  15G, 
where  182  harems  had  been  in  1890  and  where  later,  in  1897,  179  harems  were  found. 

THE  COUNT  OF  MR.  BEAMAN. 

These  recent  counts  Justify  us  in  assuming  that  a  large  proportion  at  least  of  the 
bulls  were  on  the  ground  by  the  24th  of  May,  and  although  we  can  not  say  just  w  oat 
proportion  Ihe  bulls  counted  by  Mr.  Beaman  bore  to  the  whole  number  on  this  rookery 
for  the  season  of  1880,  we  ujay  rest  assured  that  had  there  been  any  such  number  as 
10,0(tO,  or  even  .^(OOO,  taking  the  average  harem,  which  recent  observations  show  to  be 
correct,  there  would  have  been  at  least  between  1,000  and  2,000  of  them  in  place  on 
that  date. 

Referring  again  to  the  log,  we  find  that  in  1879,  the  i>receding  season,  bulls  began 
to  arrive  (m  Lukanin  rookery  on  May  2,  and  on  May  17  there  were  (10  of  them.  This 
number  is  not  greatly  out  of  jiroportioii  to  the  142  found  a  week  later  the  following 
season,  and  argues  still  more  strongly  against  the  supposition  that  bulls  by  the 
thousand  would  occupy  that  rookery  in  June. 

CAPTAIN  BUYAN'T'S  NOTE. 

In  this  connection  another  note  in  the  log  of  St.  Paul  Island  has  significance.  In 
the  fall  of  the  year  187(>  difliculty  was  experienced  in  securing  the  normal  quota  of 
pup  seals  for  food.  Captain  Bryant,  commenting  on  this,  says:  "Ordinarily  Kitovi 
rookery  alone  would  have  supplied  the  necessary  pups''- — four  or  five  thousand.  As 
only  males  were  killed,  and  as  a  liberal  allowance  must  be  made  on  account  of  the 
swimming  of  the  pups  for  the  impossibility  of  reaching  all  the  males,  the  inference 


I  Kxtnicts  from  the  log  of  St.  riiiil,  Pt.  II,  date  of  May  24,  1880. 
-  Ibid.,  date  of  November  23,  1876. 


E8TIMATK8   OF   NUMUERS. 


83 


l>laiiily  to  be  drawn  fioiii  this  is  that  at  the  tiiiio  in  (]ni>8tion  Kitovi  rookery  by  a  most 
liberal  estimate  liad  about  -'<),UUU  breed iiijj;  cows.  Mr.  Elliott  would  have  us  believe  it 
had  nearly  1(J0,00<>. 

SPILKI  AND  I'OLOVINA. 

Two  more  examples  may  be  cited  in  this  couiiection.  Mr.  Elliott  ascribes  to  Spiiki 
rookery  a  population  of  S,<)0(t  cows  and  pui)s  in  1874  and  soinetliinj>  like  2G0  bulls. 
This  was  a  small  rookery  under  tlu'  hill  behind  the  village  of  St.  Paul,  afterwards 
abandoned.  It  is  recorded  by  Agent  Beaman  in  the  log  for  the  year  1879'  that  this 
rookery  on  June  liO  (a  date  at  which  all  the  harem  bulls  must  have  been  in  place)  had 
1'3  bulls.    This  is  less  than  one-tenth  of  Mr.  Elliott's  estimate. 

In  the  same  year  Mr.  Dcaman  records,  under  date  of  June  10,  that  there  were  ''  a 
couple  of  thousand  bulls"  on  Polovina  rookeries,  where  Mr.  Elliott  estimates  lully 
10,000  in  1874. 

While  these  entries  do  not  givo  us  definite  proof  as  to  the  early  condition  of  these 
rookeries,  yet  they  clearly  and  conclusively  show  that  Mr.  Elliott's  figures  are  grossly 
exaggerated. 

I'KRSONAL  ESTIMATES  DIFFER. 

To  sum  the  wiiole  matter  up,  we  are  uuable  to  accept  Mr.  Elliott's  estimate  as 
representing  anything  more  than  au  individual  opinion  greatly  overdrawn  by  a  too- 
vivid  imagination.  The  value  of  individual  opinions  in  matters  of  this  kind  is  well 
shown  by  a  comparison  of  the  estimate  of  Mr.  Elliott  with  that  of  Lieut.  Washburn 
Maynard,  who  was  on  the  islands  in  1874,  with  him.  Lieutenant  Maynard  estimates 
the  total  population  of  the  rookeries  at  0,000,000,  as  against  Mr.  Elliott's  figures  of 
4,700,000.  A  difference  of  a  million  one  way  or  another  seemed  to  be  a  matter  of  uo 
moment. 

LOOSE   USE  OF  FIGXTUES. 

That  Mr.  Elliott  himself  did  not  originally  attach  close  and  definite  meaning  to 
his  own  estimate  is  evident  from  the  discrepancy  already  referred  to,  whereby  he 
assumes  in  his  total  of  3,103,420  "  breeding  seals  and  young  "  that  only  1,000,000  are 
pups.  Further,  on  the  basis  of  this  birthrate,  which  is  an  understatement  of  his  own 
estimate,  he  finds  that  after  making  due  allowance  for  an  "extreme  estimate  of  loss 
sustained  at  sea  "  there  will  still  be  left  "  180,000  seals  in  good  condition  that  can  safely 
be  killed  every  year.''  The  ([uota  never  exceeded  100,000,  and  the  turning  ba(;k 
annually  of  80,000  young  males  to  grow  up  as  bulls  would  by  1880  have  given  the 
island  a  stock  of  approximately  800,000  bulls.  This,  of  course,  never  occurred,  for 
the  simple  reason  that  no  such  number  of  males  in  excess  of  the  quota  ever  existed 
on  the  islands. 

In  making  the  above  criticisms  of  Mr.  Elliott's  census,  it  has  not  been  our  purpose 
simply  to  tear  down  and  condemn  work  which  in  many  respects  under  the  circum- 
staiuies  deserves  commendation ;  but  a  disposition  has  of  late  been  manifested  to  insist 
upon  the  absolute  correctness  of  these  figures,  and  in  setting  them  aside  it  becomes 
necessary  for  us  to  give  reasons  for  such  action. 


'  Extracts  froui  log  of  St.  Paul,  Pt.  II,  date  uf  .lune  20,  1879. 


^ 


84 


THE    FUlt   8EAUS   OF   THK    PRIUIl^OF    ISLANDS. 
MB.  TIN(SLE'S  ESTIMATK. 


The  next  estiiiiato  of  tlie  seals  was  made  in  the  year  1886  by  Mr.  (leorge  K. 
Tingle,  then  Treasury  agent  (in  St.  Paul  Islaiul.  Mr.  Tingle  purported  to  measure  the 
breeding  areas  in  the  early  spring  when  unoccupied,  and  then  to  compare  them  with 
the  ground  occupied  in  the  summer  to  make  the  necessary  corrections.  He  found  a 
rookery  spiice  of  12,715,500  square  feet,  with  a  population  of  (5,357,750  breeding  seals 
and  young.  Mr.  Elliott's  rookery  spa.  a  had  been  <»,38(i,840  s(iuare  feet,  with  a 
|)opulation  of  3,llK{,4'-'0  breeding  seals  and  young.  Mr.  Tingle,  however,  took 
exception  to  the  estimate  of  space  assigned  to  the  individual  animals,  believing  it 
too  small.  He  therefore  reduced  his  estimate  by  one-fourth,  or  to  4,708,430,  still 
an  increase  of  1,574,900  over  Mr.  Elliott's  figures. 

THE  ESTIMATE   INCOKBECf. 

The  absurdity  of  this  estinmte  makes  it  hardly  worth  considering.  At  the  time 
it  was  unule  the  herd  was  well  ou  the  wiiy  of  decline.  One  element  in  the  estimate 
may  perha])s  be  cited  as  indicative  of  its  value  as  a  whole.  The  rocky  beach  at  the 
foot  of  the  clitVs,  between  the  termination  of  (lorbatch  rookery  and  the  angle  of 
Zoftoi  sands,  was  ntade  a  separate  rookery,  with  a  population  of  1 1,000  seals.  The 
ground  has  never  been  occupied  as  breeding  territory.  Whatever  may  have  been 
the  purpose  of  this  enumeration,  it  certainly  did  not  give  the  facts  in  the  case. 

ELLIOTT'S  1890  ESTIMATE. 

In  the  year  1890  .Mr.  Elliott  again  visited  the  fur-seal  islands  and  nuide  another 
estimate  of  their  population.  He  employed  the  same  methods  used  in  18712-1874, 
He  found  the  seals  occupying  breeding  territory  to  the  extent  of  1,918,780  square 
feet.'  1. 1  his  former  estimate  the  ground  occupied  contained  0,38(5,840  square  feet. 
Applying  his  original  space  unit  to  the  area  of  1890,  ^Jr.  Elliott  found  a  population 
of  959,393  "breeding  seals  and  young." 

THE  1890  ESTIMATE  UNSATISFACTORY. 

For  this  second  estimate  we  can  oidy  say  that  it  is  as  bad,  if  not  worse,  than  the 
first.  All  that  we  have  said  regarding  the  census  of  1872-1874  applies  with  etpial 
force  to  the  census  of  1890,  for,  as  Mr.  Elliott  tells  us,  "  it  is  made  in  precisely  the 
same  time  and  method."  We  may  call  attention  si)ecially  to  the  fact  that  notwith- 
standing Lagoon  rookery  is  found  to  be  reduced  from  37,000  animals  to  9,000,  the 
shore  front  of  the  rookery  had  been  doubled  in  length,  being  750  feet  long  in  1872-1874 
and  1,500  in  1890.  No  explanation  is  offere<l.or  suggested  for  this  extension.  On  the 
island  of  St.  (leorge,  which  has  at  the  best  only  a  limited  extent  of  breeding  territory, 
and  this  probably  fully  occupied  in  1872-1874,  Mr.  Elliott  in  1890  more  than  doubles 
the  length  of  all  its  rookeries.  On  East  rookery  alone  he  expands  the  water  front 
from  900  feet  in  1872-1874  to  3,240  in  1890.  As  a  result  of  this  expansion  he  finds  that 
though  the  seals  have  become  reduced  to  one-fourth  on  St.  Paul  Island,  on  St.  George 
the  reduction  has  only  been  to  one  half. 


'  Elliott'n  eHtimate  for  1890  is  ."lOO.OiX)  square  feet  Ichs  in  extent  tlian  that  of  Messrs.  True  and 
Townseiid  for  1895.  Deiilinf;  with  thu  more  accurate  maps  and  wlien  the  herd  wns  at  least  a  half 
smaller,  they  found  2,616,063  square  fvct  of  rookery  space  as  aguiust  his  1,918,786. 


■tnnMsi 


ESTIMATES    MADE    BY    TKUE    AND   TOWNSEND. 


85 


It  is  not  possible  for  ns  to  siifjgest  iiny  explanation  or.justitlcatioii  I'or  the  vufjiiiies 
which  these  eatiiuates  of  Mr.  Elliott  show,  and  they  need  not  be  furtlier  discussed 
here.  In  an  a))pendix  to  the  recent  republication,'  by  order  of  Congress,  of  reports 
of  agents  and  otliers  connected  with  the  fur  seal  islands,  they  have  been  considered 
at  length  in  connection  with  the  subject-matter  of  the  reports  of  which  they  are 
a  part. 

THE  TRUE  AND  TOWNSEND  ESTIMATE  l'(»R  lS!t5. 

The  most  recent  computation  of  the  seals  by  acreage  measurements  is  that  made 
by  Messrs.  True  and  Townsend  in  1805,  In  this  a  decided  improvement  was  nnule  in 
securing  the  space  unit  occujued  by  the  individual  seal,  instead  of  using  an  arbitrary 
estimate,  a  count  of  the  cows  was  ma<le  on  Kitovi  and  Lagoon  rookeries  aiul  on  parts 
of  Lukauin  and  Tolstoi.  The  area  of  the  counted  districts  was  then  taken  fntni  the 
current  maps,  and  the  average  space  occupied  by  the  individual  seals  Ibund.  For  the 
4,11(>  cows  counted,  this  average  was  found  to  be  4(5  square  feet,  ranging  from  (»"» 
square  feet  on  Lagoon  rookery  to  li!)  on  Tolstoi.  As  the  spaces  counted  wer«i  all  of 
the  scattered  or 'Minmassed"  sort,  an  arbitrary  reduction  to  one-half  of  this  spa«'(',  or 
23  s<iuare  feet,  was  made  for  the  crowded  or  "massed"  breeding  grounds. 

Taking  these  averages  and  applying  them  to  the  acreage  extt^nt  of  the  brc^eding 
grounds  as  obtained  from  the  current  maps  of  the  rookeries,  an  estimate  of  the  popu 
lati«m  of  all  the  rookeries  was  arrived  at.  The  total  number  so  obtained  was  about 
7i»,(M>0  adult  breeding  seals.  To  make  it  <romparable  with  the  former  «'stimat«'S  of  Mr. 
Elliott  we  may  add  the  70,000  pups,  making  a  total  of  145,000  "  breeding  seals  and 
young." 

THE  ESTIMATE  MTTST   BE   DOUHLED. 


In  this  enumeration  it  was  assumed  that,  at  the  time  the  census  was  made,  all,  or 
practically  all,  the  animals  were  present,  including  the  yearling  and  2year-old  females. 
The  etfect  of  this  assumption  we  have  already  alluded  to  in  connection  with  Mr. 
Elliott's  estimate.  The  fact  is  that  at  no  time  during  the  season  are  more  than  half 
the  cows  |>resent.  The  estimate  must  therefore  be  doubled  at  least  to  make  it 
represent  actual  conditions. 

IT  ANTICIPATED  THE   REASON. 

But  as  a  matter  of  fiujt,  for  the  estimate  of  180.')  this  will  not  be  sutlicieiit.  The 
counts  on  which  the  estimate  is  based  were  made  before  the  real  maximum  of  popula- 
tion on  the  rookeries  was  reached.  The  counting  was  done  between  the  8th  and 
10th  of  July,  whereas  the  investigations  of  1800  and  1897  show  that  the  maximum  of 
population  is  probably  not  reached  until  about  the  15th  of  the  month.  Mr.  Townsend 
himself,  in  referring  to  the  estimate  of  1895,  remarks  that  "the  rookeries  may  not 
have  (as  yet)  reached  their  breeding  height." 

ARBITEAEY  REDUCTION  FOU  MASSED   AREAS. 

Another  weakness  in  this  estimate  lies  in  the  arbitrary  reduction  to  one-half  in 
obtaining  the  space  for  the  massed  rookeries.    Our  investigations  on  this  point  seem 

'  "Seal  and  Salmou  Fisberics,  aud  Ueueral  UesuurcoH  of  AluHka,"  vol.  :i 


8(] 


THE   KUtt   8KAL8   OF   THE    PRIHILOP    ISLANDS. 


to  indicate  that  the  si)a('e  unit  for  massed  breeding  {jrounds  shonhl  be  smaller.  Hut 
for  the  uiidereatiinate  whicli  may  therefore  be  involved  on  this  account  we  can  otter 
no  correction.  For  the  underestimate  due  to  the  early  date  at  which  the  count  was 
made  we  can  make  a  rough  estimate.  The  (hiily  count  on  Lukanin  rookery  for  the 
season  of  1897  shows  that  between  the  8th  and  15th  of  July  there  was  an  increase  of  15 
per  cent  in  rookery  population.  This  would  increase  the  figures  for  1895  as  originally 
given  to  about  80,U0U,  and  after  doubling  for  absentees  the  corrected  total  would 
be  about  1CU,0<)0  breeding  females.  The  inclusion  of  the  yearlings  and  2-year-old 
females  does  not  att'ect  the  total,  as  they  were  not  present,  and  no  allowance  need  be 
made  for  them. 

THE  ESTIMATE  HEVISED, 

This  total  of  100,000  females,  or  giving  to  each  female  a  i)Hp  and  adding  the 
estimated  number  of  breeding  bulls,  making  ;J:i5,000  "breeding  seals  and  young,"  is 
probably  within  10,000  of  the  facts  for  the  season  of  1895.  That  it  comes  thus  near 
the  truth,  however,  is  the  result  of  accident  rather  than  good  management.  The 
corrections  whicli,  in  the  light  of  subseipient  experience,  we  have  been  able  to  make, 
aie  vital  to  its  truth  and  change  the  results  radically.  The  original  results  could  not 
have  been  trusted  alone,  and  were  wholly  misleading. 


THE  IMPORTANT  FKATURE  OF  THE  ESTIMATE. 

The  really  important  feature  in  the  estimate  of  1895  is  the  count  of  cows  in  which 
it  originates.  This  was  a  distinct  step  in  advance,  in  that  it  a|)proachcd  a  rational 
basis.  In  the  a])i>lication  of  the  unit  of  space  to  the  rookeries  not  counted  the  method 
was  unfortunate.  The  area  of  breeding  ground  was  taken  from  maps  in  themselves 
imperfect,  on  which  the  rookery  outlines  were  sketched  by  the  aid  of  the  eye.  The 
lookery  boundaries,  as  we  have  shown,  are  constantly  changing  as  the  season 
advances,  and  there  being  no  definite  landmarks  to  guide  the  observer,  it  is  impos- 
sible that  the  outlines  should  be  correctly  located.  The  enumeration  is  therefore 
cariied  into  the  region  of  pure  speculation  and  has  only  the  value  of  the  individual 
judgment  of  the  person  tracing  the  nia])s. 

It  is  fair  to  say,  however,  that  nothii'g  definite  and  exact  was  claimed  for  the 
census  of  1895,  as  Mr.  True's  own  words,  in  commenting  upon  it,  will  show.  lie  says: 
"  I  do  not  think  that  any  estimate  can  be  made  which  will  ap])roximate  the  truth 
more  than  remotely,"  and  he  continues  to  say  that  tlie  (;hief  useof  such  calculations  is 
"the  elimination  of  fanciful  estimates  of  the  number  of  seals." 


MR.  CROWLEY'S  ESTLMATES  FOR  1895. 


In  leaving  the  estimates  of  1895  it  is  necessary  to  refer  to  two  other  calculations 
of  rookery  population  made  for  the  same  year  on  a  ditt'erent  basis.  One  of  these  is 
by  Mr.  J.  li,  Crowley,  chief  agent  in  charge  of  these  islands.  He  finds,  as  he  says, 
by  actual  count,  a  total  of  99,936  breeding  cows  and  5,552  breeding  bulls.  When  we 
make  the  necessary  doubling  of  this  estimate  of  cows  and  add  tlie  pups  we  have  a 
total  of  about  30.5,552  "breeding  seals  and  young."    Of  the  methods  or  details  of  this 


ESTIMATES   OF    NUMUEKS. 


87 


enumeration  wo  know  notliiiiK  beyond  Mr.  f'rowloy's  statement'  tliat  <'tlio  breodiu},' 
seal  herd  Iiuh  l)e('n  reduced  to  siieh  proportions  that  it  can  now  l»o  connli-d  with 
comparative  accuracy." 

COLONEL  MtTEUAY'.S  KSTIMATK. 

The  other  calculation  is  one  yiven  by  Colonel  Joseph  Afurray.^  Uo  (inds  rt,{m\ 
bulls  and  2(K>,(K)0  cows.  Here  again  we  have  no  details  and  only  know  that  his 
method  «tf  enumeration  was  to  count  the  breeding  bulls  and  then  to  apply  to  each  an 
average  harem  of  K)  cows.  This  average  size  of  harem  is  so  lar^c^  as  to  make  it 
unnecessary  to  double  for  tiie  absentee  cows.  We  have,  therefore,  simply  to  add  the 
necessary  U()0,0(M)  pups  and  we  have  a  total  of  40r>,<K)0  "  breeding?  nvah  and  young." 

DEFECTS  OF  THIS  ESTIMATE. 

That  Colonel  Murray's  count  of  bulls  is  more  than  a  rough  api)roxiniation  its 
author  has  iiev«u-  claimed.  That  in  greater  part  it  is  incorrect  is  clear  from  the  fact 
that,  while  it  was  begun  about  July  18  it  was  not  com|tleted  before  August  21.  Our 
investigations  show  that  a  count  of  harems  after  July  2'>  can  give  no  idea  of  actual 
conditions.  In  examining  the  count,  as  given,  moreover,  our  attention  is  attracted  to 
the  facrt  that  on  Lagoon  rookery  he  finds  only  50  harems,  whereas  Mr.  True  and  Mr. 
Townsend,  counting  separately,  found  between  115  and  lliO  harems  in  the  same  season. 
While  having  manifestly  suffered  additional  decline,  it  still  had  in  l.S!)7  115  harems. 
On  the  other  hand,  for  a  total  of  about  300  harems  on  Kitovi  and  Lukanin  lookeries, 
counted  by  Messrs.  True  and  Townsend,  Colonel  Murray  recoids  .'JOO.  These  diller- 
ences  tend  to  show  that  the  hitter's  count  is  made  in  roun<l  numbers,  no  account  of 
anything  less  than  50  being  taken. 

CONTUASr  OF  ESTIMATES  FOR  ISO".. 

To  give  an  idea  of  the  nature  of  these  various  estimates  for  1.S95,  it  is  worth  while 
to  contrast  them  in  tabular  form: 

Estimates,  neason  of  tS95. 


Trim  nnd  TowiihcikI 

Mr.  ('rowU'.v 

Coloiiiil  Murray 


Itiillx. 


4, 402 


OOWH. 


70, 423 

UO,  iiau 

2(10,  (HIO 


It  is  not  a  gracious  task  to  call  attention  to  these  widely  variant  and  conflicting 
estimates  put  forward  by  authorized  agents  of  the  (Jovernment,  and  publisiied  simul- 
taneously; but  as  tliey  have  been  used  by  the  British  Commission  to  weaken  the  force 
of  the  more  accurate  and  conclusive  statistics  of  1890,  they  must  be  shown  iu  their 
true  light  as  rough  eflorts  at  approximation,  not  correcited  by  other  data. 

CONTRAST  OF  ACREAGE  MEASUKEMENTS. 

In  leaving  the  subject  of  acreage  measurements  it  will  serve  our  purpose,  as 
showing  the  unsatisfactory  nature  of  the  results  thus  obtained,  to  compare  for  a 


'  Sou.  Doc.  137,  Pt.  I,  p.  35. 


»8en.  Doc,  1.37,  Ft.  I,  p.  .372. 


J^iSssiSMWwiA',-. 


T-^ 


88 


TUR    FUK   8KAL8  OF   THK   PRIHILOK   ISLANDS. 


iiioiiu'iit  tliu  varioiiH  eHtiiimtcH  that  have  been  made  on  this  baaiH.    They  aru  a^t 
follows: 

Acreage  ealimate.H  tif  J'ltr  xeah,  I'rihilof  hlands. 


liy  wlinni  iiintle. 


Area. 


Siiiiarr/fft. 

Ilrvniit  (IHfil)) ]  '.'M,  ;t:!H,  (KIU 

Kliii>tt(IK7'.>  IH74I 0.8Hn,H4U 

Tliit:l«(lH«ll) I  I2,7ir>,50() 

Kllicitt  (IHttO) l,«U,78fl 

Trill'   mill    TowiiHciiil 

(IHUD) 2.6U,l)fl3 


AiiiiiinlH. 

ItcninrkH. 

l.;2«,IH)0 

.'1,  iu:i.  fi» 

4. 7IM,  4:111 

»5»,  \m 

llnii'iliiiK  Mcnli. 

Ilri'i'illii);  hi'iiIh  mill  .v<mii({. 

l)ii. 

Do. 

70, 42:1 

(JiiwK  iinly,  incliiiliiiK  iiiii) 
mill  two  yi'ui  oIiIh. 

SUMMARY   OF  VAST  CONDITIONS. 

To  snni  np  this  discMission  of  past  coiiditioiis,  we  may  coiicladc  that  the  estimate 
of  18G!)  by  Captain  llryant  is  only  a  ron(;h  approximation,  and  {;ives  but  little  idea  of 
the  real  condition  of  the  herd.  Mr.  Elliott's  e.stimate  of  1.S7U-1874  is  scarcely  less 
unsatisfactory,  being,  as  we  now  know,  nearly  twice  too  great.  Mis  18!>0  estimate, 
through  the  arbitrary  curtailment  of  the  bleeding  territory  occupied,  is  nearer  the 
truth,  but  still  far  from  it.  The  estimate  of  Mr.  Tingle  is  wholly  untriistwortliy.  The 
estimate  of  Messrs.  True  and  Townsend  for  18!>.5,  when  subjected  to  the  obvious 
corrections  and  additions,  which  later  observations  show  to  bo  necessary,  is  very 
near  the  facts. 

A  RECONSTUUf'TION  OF  EAULIKU  ESTIMATES. 

In  view  of  wiiat  has  just  been  said,  it  becomes  evident  that  the  early  estimates, 
made  shortly  after  the  herd  came  into  the  possession  of  the  riiited  States,  can  not  be 
relied  upon.  There  is  abundant  proof  that  the  estimates  are  grossly  exaggerated,  but 
data  is  wanting  to  enable  us  to  determine  the  real  facts.  Some  estimate  of  these  early 
conditions  is,  however,  necessary,  and  no  better  method  for  obtaining  it  is  available 
than  a  theoretical  reconstruction  of  the  herd  on  the  basis  of  the  ]>resent  known 
condition  of  its  breeding  seals.  To  assist  in  this  we  have  the  record  of  the  bachelor 
herd,  as  indicated  in  the  history  of  the  quota  for  the  first  twenty  years  of  American 
control. 

THE  EARLIER  AND   LATER  QtTOTAS. 

From  1871  to  1889,  inclusive,  the  hauling  grounds  of  the  Pribilof  Islands  yielded 
10(),<)(l(>  skins  annually.  The  seals  for  the  greater  part  of  this  jteriod  were  obtained 
before  the  2<)tli  of  .July.  It  is  the  testimony  of  those  connected  with  the  work  tiiat 
there  were  always  killable  seals  left  at  the  close  of  the  season,  and  we  know  that  the 
rookeries  never  lacked  the  necessary  supply  of  male  life. 

During  the  ]>resent  season  a  cpiota  of  slightly  more  than  20,000  seals  was  obtained 
after  continuing  the  driving  nntil  the  10th  of  August  and  killing  closer  than  ever 
before.  In  other  words,  at  the  present  time  the  hauling  grounds  are  not  capable 
under  like  conditions  of  supplying  one-flfth  the  number  of  killable  seals  to  day  that 
they  were  able  withcmt  difficulty  to  furnish  for  13  years  prior  to  1884. 

THE   (JITOTA  DEPENDENT  ITl'ON   THE  BREEDING  HERD. 

The  bachelor  herd  is  directly  dependent  upon  the  breeding  herd.  It  is  nominally 
taken  from  the  surviving  .3year-old  males  and  is  directly  related  to  the  birthrate  of 
three  years  prior  to  its  taking.    Three  years  ago,  or  in  1894,  therefore,  the  birthrate 


.^J 


=«p^ 


EtTIMATES   OP    NIMHERS. 


8!) 


;n 


*- 


ofpiipawaa  between  onu- lift li  iiml  one  Hixtli  oC  what  it  was  in  the  period  trotn  1871 
to  \HSit.  Thn  brooding  liurda  of  tiie  Hiimo  years  bear  tlio  Hiiniu  rehition  to  eacdi  otiier. 
The  pro8(>iit  total  of  brcedinj;  teniales  on  the  ishinds  is  about  l.'t<>,(KM).  We  may  inter, 
tlieretbre,  tlm^  in  tiie  period  IHTl-lSSO  there  were  about  live  times  as  many,  or  in  the 
i.uiKUUorhood  of  n<M),<MM)  breeding  fenniles. 

KSTIMATK  OF  NONllBEKDING   SEALS. 

Of  tlic  bachelors  or  nonbreeding  seals  no  satisfactory  estinnvte  has  been  or  t-an  be 
made,  but  it  is  evident  from  tlie  data  now  available  that  about  one  half  tiie  seals  are 
lost  in  the  first  migration  at  sea,  while  the  number  is  still  further  reduced  to  one 
third,  possibly  to  less,  before  the  age  of  'A  years  is  reached.  From  this  we  tuin  in  a 
rough  way  calculate  that  in  connection  with  the  quota  of  li(),(KI()  bachelors  we  have  a 
total  of  approximately  4()0,(MN)  animals,  including  breeding  females,  their  young,  and 
all  other  classes.  This  is  a  ratio  of  20  to  1  between  the  entire  herd  and  the  herd  of 
killable  seals,  and  would,  when  applied  to  the  herd  of  1871-1880,  give  a  total  of 
about  2,(HH),0(H)  animals  of  all  classes. 

THE  UK('<»NSTlUirTION   STILL  ONLY   AN  ESTIMATE. 

In  putting  forward  this  reconstruction  of  past  conditions  we  are  well  aware  that 
it  is  still  only  an  estimate.  We  have,  however,  in  making'  it  Mie  advantage  of 
definitely  known  premises  to  start  from,  and  the  results  harnioni/e  fully  with  the 
conditions  of  our  problem. 

COMI'LETEI)  ESTIMATE. 

Assuming  the  figures  we  have  arrived  at,  we  find  that  they  work  out  in  harmony 
with  the  recorded  facts  of  the  quota  for  this  period.  Thus,  with  a  birthrate  of  G(M),000 
pups,  we  may  assume  onelialf,  or  .'J(H),0(K),  to  survive  to  the  age  of  1  year,  and  liOO,0(M> 
to  the  age  of  3  years.  One  half  of  these  were  males  and  were  killed  to  fill  the  quota. 
We  know,  of  course,  that  not  all  the  surviving  males  were  killed,  au<l  therefore  that 
either  the  birthrate  of  pups  was  greater  by  li.'i,OllO  to  5(),0(M)  than  the  «>ne  assumed,  or 
that  the  ratio  of  loss  was  slightly  less  than  one-half  and  one-third.  The  computation 
is  not  intended  to  be  exact,  and  can  not  be  made  so,  but  it  is  sufficient  to  show  the 
direction  in  which  the  truth  lies,  and  is  conclusive  enough  to  show  that  during  the 
time  of  the  herd^s  greatest  expansion  its  breeding  females  numbered  about  (>0U,000,  a 
figure  sufficiently  exact  for  all  pra(;tical  purposes. 

Adding  an  equal  number  of  pups  annually  and  2(),()0()  breeding  bulls,  we  hav(Mi 
total  of  1,400,000  "breeding  seals  and  young,"  for  the  i>criod  in  which  Mr.  Elliott 
estimates  3,1»;{,420.' 

'  We  luiiHt  iimiHt  ttiat  tlio  calculations  in  tlio  precediii);  paragraphs  am  iiitcmlcd  iiu'rcly  us  roii^li 
appi'oximatioim  to  hIihw  tlio  early  coiiilition  of  tliu  herd.  Such  diRcropnucitiit  as  exist  lH'tw(^eii  tlieRo 
figures  and  thoae  tentatively  put  fortli  in  our  Preliminary  Report  for  l8iH>  are  the  result  of  more 
r^.trff-"  'toHlutrjition.  The  attempt  of  the  Itritish  Colonial  OHico  (see  letter  of  Mr.  Wiuglicid  1i> 
Foreign  OIHce,  CNirr.  on  Seal  Fisheries,  Brit.  Blue  Book,  No.  I,  Septeniher,  1897,  p.  121)  to  make  capita, 
nut  of  them  is  wholly  unwarranted.  The  statements  both  here  and  in  the  formi-r  report  are  counhed 
in  sufficiently  guarded  language  to  leave  no  doubt  in  the  mind  of  the  candid  roailer.  AVe  merely 
wish  to  show  that  since  the  herd  formerly  yielded  10(),0()0  skins  annually  and  now  yields  but  2(),(NK), 
it  mnst  once  have  been  approximately  live  times  as  large  as  now.  On  the  other  hand  we  infer  that  it 
could  not  under  tlie  circumstances  have  been  seven  or  ten  times  as  large,  TkeNo  figures  represent  a: 
attempt,  nu>ro  or  less  imperfec^t,  owing  to  the  comple.Kity  of  the  problem,  to  give  concrete  exprcssioi 
to  this  undeniable  fact. 


90 


TIIK    FUR   SEALS   OF   TUB    rUIHJLOP    ISLANDS. 
B.  THE  PRESENT  CONDITION  OF  THE  HERD. 


TUB  <'KN8irS. 

Ill  tlio  work  of  tlie  |)r'jHent  invoHtigation  of  the  fiir-Hcal  lierd  Mio  inoHt  iiii|»ortiuit 
roii.sidcmtion  was  Mi«>  niiiUinu  of  as  u(!curatu  iiiieiiuiiioratioiias|M)HHiblt'  of  tliMiiumbor 
of  aiiiinals.  Tliis  lias  always  foi-ined  an  important  part  of  overy  investipitioii  in 
the  past.  But,  as  w«  have  seen,  the  r«!sults  have  been  anything  but  satisfiu^tory.  The 
great  iniiltitinh^  of  the  aniiiialt),  when  the  herd  was  live  times  as  great  as  at  preseiit« 
niiiy  have  left  no  other  result  possible.  At  the  present  time,  even  with  the  herd  so 
greatly  reduced,  the  task  of  making  a  complete  census  of  all  the  rookeries  is  by  no 
means  an  easy  one,  as  the  details  of  our  work,  which  will  be  found  iii  the  Daily 
Journal,  will  indicate. 

ITS  DIFFICITLTY. 

Without  going  into  detail  hero,  we  may  mention  among  the  difllcnities  of  the 
problem  the  fringe  of  idle  bulls,  savage  and  immovable,  that  skirts  each  rookery,  the 
danger  of  stampeding  the  rookeries  themselves,  the  broken  and  irregular  nature  of 
the  ground,  and,  tinally,  the  constantly  shifting  nature  of  the  rookery  population. 
These  are  some  of  the  merely  mechanical  dilllcultics.  But  more  serious  for  us  than 
any  of  these  was  the  fa(;t  that  at  the  outset  the  conditions  of  the  problem  before  iis 
were  not  at  all  understood.  It  had  been  currently  accepted  that  during  a  period 
between  the  KKh  and  2(»tli  of  .Inly  the  breeding  rookeries  were  at  their  height  and 
practically  all  the  animals  present.  U])on  this  supposition  all  previous  estimates  had 
been  based.  With  this  idea  in  mind  we  began  our  work,  only  to  lind  as  we  advanced 
that  the  supposition  was  nidbunded. 

For  the  smaller  rookeries  of  St.  Gtforge,  and  such  rookeries  as  Kitovi,  Lagoon, 
Zapadiii  Ueef,  and  the  clitt  portions  of  Polovina  and  Tolstoi,  it  was  found  possible  to 
make  a  count  of  the  individual  animals  by  harems.  This  was  a(;cordingly  done.  On 
the  greater  rookeries,  as  those  of  Northeast  Point,  Reef,  and  Zapadiii,  no  count  of 
individuals  was  possible,  and  for  these  rookeries  only  harems  were  enumerated. 

ACTUAL  COUNTS. 

Our  count  of  individual  cows  in  181K>  covered  about  one- fifth  of  the  rookery  space 
on  St.  Paul  Island,  embracing  1,245  harems,  with  a  total  population  of  16,G79  cows, 
or  ai.  average  of  13.4  cows  to  each  harem  at  the  height  of  the  season.  The  average 
harem  of  the  individual  rookeries  and  parts  of  rookeries  counted  ranged  from  II  in 
the  lowest  to  17.3  In  the  highest.  The  lower  averages  represented  thin  and  scattered 
portions  of  rocky  breeding  ground,  and  none  of  the  counted  area  contained  any  ol 
the  massed  conditions  characteristic  of  porti\>:i;!  of  the  larger  rookeries.  The  highest 
average  beh)nged  to  Kitovi  rookery,  the  hirgtsv  continuous  rookery  space  counted. 
It  contained  3,152  cows  in  182  harems,  an  average  of  17.3  cows  to  the  harem.  The 
conditions  of  this  rookery  as  a  whole  beiii;;  ijore  typical  of  the  general  conditions 
prevailing  on  the  larger  rookeries,  its  average  was  taken  as  a  basis  for  computing  the 
]>opulatioii  of  those  rookeries  on  which  only  harems  could  be  counted.  The  appropri- 
ateness of  this  average  was  the  more  apparent  as  on  North  rookery  of  St.  George 
the  129  harems  accurately  counted  gave  an  average  of  17  cows  to  the  harem. 


I 


I 
t 

(1 
u 
ii 

C 

f 

>i 
\ 
( 


IbNsrg   OP    ROUKRRIF.8    IN    IM!Hi. 


91 


t 


^:^at 


KITOVl   B(»)KKI!Y   TAKKN    AS    I'Vl'ICAI,. 

Applying  tlioii  tlip  !iveni>rc  of  Kitovi  to  tln'^  rookericH  of  St.  rmil  on  wliicli  indi- 
vidual counts  could  not  Ik^  nnule,  w<^  obtaintMl  tlu^  following  tentativi-  ct'umiH  for  tliis 

islund : 

Ctittuii  of  harrmt  and  rows,  St.  I'aiil. 


Kitokiiry, 


I)at4'  III' 

t'tlUllt. 


Miiri'mii.      CowN. 


Kllinin July 

l.iikaiiin Inly 

LiiuiHiii  a Inly 

TiilHliii  (niiilnl riil'v 

ToIhIiiI  (cUIIm)  n .1  iilV 


/u|Miilni . 

Ml  lit'  /iiiiuiliil  . 

/lt|liullli  Itri'l'a. 

(liirliiiti'li 

ArillKni'ii  n 

K.i.l. 


Slrntrh  lini'k 

I'olovhiii  (iiniin)  . . 
I'lilovinii  (i'lill'r<)((. 
Foliivinik  (l.iltiv)  . 

Viinlni'liiil/i 

Hurjiivib 


'I'oUl. 


Jlllv 
July 
.liil'v 
.Inly 
.Inlv 
Jnly 
Ant;. 
JnlY 
.liil'y 
.Inlv 
.rnlv 
.lul'v 


IH:!  1 
H7  ' 
I  HI) 

:iHU 

|IW 

ri8:i 

'ilO 

no  ] 

IKP'i  I 

•21  I 

5(14  . 

n:i 

I3H 

HI) 

45 
1175 
■J9:i 


:i.  \M 
ii,  .'>4:i 

1.471 

1,  7'.'9 
l,4UH 

IIMW;^ 
\i,  4IIU 

•2.  'jriti 

.'•.,  •2-2* 

KM 

H.7I0 

I.UIXI 

2.  ;iH7 

l.'JOK 

7711 

15,  K71I 

I,  .TJ8 


4,348  ;   7u.:iai 


a(*owH  iin<l  Inu'innH  conntcil. 

iiCowH  itnti  hiirpiimi'iinntKil  in  |iiirl  cnily.     All  nlhii'  nxikcrirH  wtirc  lonnti'il  nnly  liy  linrcmi). 

OBUilNAI.  OCniNTS  OV  ST.  OKOBOK  UNSATISKAOTOKY. 

The  rookeries  of  Ht.  (icorgu  liad  been  counted  on  tlio  <Stli,  Otii,  and  lltli  of  July 
before  the  (;ount8  on  St.  Paul  were  made.  Later  experieiu-es  led  us  to  doid)t  the 
trustworthiness  of  these  earlier  counts,  and,  furthermore,  the  <;oudition  ol'  the  rookeries 
of  St.  Paul  being  difl'erent  from  that  witnessed  on  St.  Oeorge,  it  .seemed  likely  that 
at  the  time  of  our  llrst  lauding  on  tlio  latter  island,  the  season  had  not  yet  reached 
its  height. 

This  view  was  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  while  the  original  count  gave  to  St. 
George  only  one  tenth  as  many  seals  as  were  found  on  St.  Paul,  the  former  island  had 
furnished  more  than  one-flfth  of  the  quota  of  killable  seals.  In  the  latter  part  of  July 
we  made  a  more  careful  count  of  bulls  on  Zapadni  and  North  rookeries,  which  gave 
a  much  higher  nuudtcr  of  families  than  were  shown  on  the  original  estimates.  Finally, 
when  live  pups  were  counted  on  Little  East  IJookery,  they  were  found  to  exceed  the 
<jow8  counted  on  the  0th  of  .Tuly  by  4  to  1. 

KSTIMATE  FOB  ST.   (lEOUGE. 

Having  these  matters  in  mind,  in  preparing  the  estimate  for  St.  George  Island 
last  season,  a  comi)romise  was  reached  in  which  all  these  elements  had  a  share.    This 

estimate  was  as  follows: 

Ceiisiia  of  cows  and  liarenig,  Si.  (Itorgr. 


Knokory. 


North 

Little  EuHt. 

KOHt  ■ 


Starayn  Artel . 
Zapadni  


Hnrenis.      Cowr. 


225  I      3,891 

44  7«1 

i:i5  2, 3115 

75  1, 297 

182  :i,  148 


Total . 


noi 


1 1,  432 


\iX« 


!!■ 


il 


92 


THE    PUIt   SEALS   OF   THE    PRIBILOF   ISLANDS. 


■ 


THIS  ESTIMATE  ALSO   tTNSATlSFACTORY. 

Ill  t)'/;  light  of  our  experience  of  the  present  season,  however,  this  estimate  for 
St.  Cicortje  still  jiroves  unsatisfactory.  It  was  found  that  in  the  first  hasty  view  of 
Little  Kast  rooktMyon  JulyO,  1896,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  breeding  ground  was 
hidden  from  view  by  the  clitt's,  because  the  most  advantageous  observation  iwint  was 
not  selected.  The  proportion  of  killable  seals  furnished  by  St.  (Jeorge  in  1890  proved 
wholly  misleading  because  in  1897  the  island  furnished  only  one-ninth  of  the  quota. 
The  observations  of  the  present  season  also  show  that  a  count  of  harems  after  the 
25th  of  .July  gives  no  idea  of  the  real  condition  of  the  rookeries  at  the  height  of  the 
season.  On  rookery  ground  under  inspection  during  1897  for  this  purpose  it  was 
found  that  between  the  l.'3th  and  2.5th  of  July,  while  the  number  of  cows  diminished 
one-third  the  number  of  families  had  been  increased  one-seventh  through  the  ingress 
of  young  and  idle  bulls  following  the  breaking  up  of  the  harem  system. 

But  this  information  was  not  at  hand  when  the  census  of  1896  was  prepjired  on 
August  1,  and  the  estimate  seemed  to  represent  as  nearly  as  possible  the  actual 
condition  of  the  breeding  herd  at  the  time  known  as  the  height  of  the  season. 

THE  GREAT  EXCESS  OP  PUPS. 

As  our  observations  on  St.  Paul  continued,  and  especially  when  we  came  to  enter 
the  rookeries  to  count  the  dead  pups,  our  attention  was  attracted  to  tlw>.  fact  that  the 
pups  seemed  to  be  much  more  numerous  than  the  estimates  of  cows  iu  ihe  Iieight  of 
the  season  would  warrant.  This  was  particularly  noticeable  on  the  sand  flat  of 
Tolstoi. 

To  test  tlu!  matter  a  careful  count  of  the  live  pups  on  Ivitovi  rookery  war*  made  on 
August  15.  This  rookery  had  been  taken  as  the  typical  one  in  making  up  the  census 
and  the  most  accur.ate  count  of  cows  was  made  upon  it.  A  total  of  6,949  live  pups 
were  found.  To  this  number  109  dead  pups  counted  a  week  before  were  to  be  added, 
making  a  total  of  0,049  pups  for  a  rookery  where  3,152  cows  had  been  counted  on  the 
13th  of  .Inly  at  the  supposed  maximum  of  its  expansion. 

COl'NT  OP   PUPS. 

The  counting  of  live  pups  was  continued  on  all  parts  of  rookeries  where  cows 
had  originally  been  counted.  In  some  cases  the  counts  could  not  be  made  accurately 
because  the  pups  were  beginning  to  swim  well  and  took  to  the  water.  Where  the 
counts  were  most  satisfactory  the  pro])ortion  of  live  pups  to  cows  was  about  1.90  to  1. 
The  p'oportion  on  Kitovi  was  1.91,  and  here  the  count  was  made  under  favorable 
conditi.'  ;s  because  a  heavy  surf  kept  the  pups  from  going  to  sea.  Where  the  lowest 
percentages  were  found  the  least  accurate  counts  had  been  made. 

The  following  is  a  detailed  statement  of  the  count  of  live  pups: 


Count  of  live  pupa,  lS9i),-St.  Paul  Inland. 

Rookery. 

Cows. 

3, 152 
1.4!)8 
2,  256 
1,474 
1,268 
2.887 
1,194 

I'lips. 

6.0(0 
2.664 
3.802 
2,4H4 
2,496 
4.412 
2.280 

Kitovi    

TiiUtdi  (clitlh) 

/iipii«liii  Koet' 

Polifvinu  (cUtt'H)   

Murjtivi  (i)iirt^ 

Total 

Kt.  720 

24. 256 

T»-ii     ' 


a-iii^' 


'»WWi,»'P  '»-  If  I- 


CENSUS   OF    ROOKKKIES    IN    lX!t(i. 


98 


rOURECTION   FOB  AUSENT   COWS. 

Averaging  the  various  counts  it  seemed  that  the  proportion  of  live  pups  to  tlie 
apparent  number  of  cows  present  in  the  breeding  season  was  1.75.  Our  experience 
during  tlie  season  of  18U7  shows  that  this  was  too  low,  and  that  it  would  have  been 
better  had  the  simple  conditions  of  Kitovi  rookery  been  takeu  as  typical  of  the  other 
rookeries,  using  its  proportion  of  l.'Jl  to  1. 

On  the  basis  of  our  count  of  live  pups  the  previous  census  was  corrected  by  the 
addition  of  75  per  cent  to  allow  Tor  absent  cows  in  the  height  of  the  season.  lit  this 
way  the  completed  preliminary  census  put  forward  in  1898  was  made.    It  is  as  follows: 

Siimmari/  of  breetliinj  stain  (coiinln  and  fntimnlex)  tS'M. 


Koipkery. 


Kitovi 

Iiiikaiiiii 

LfiUuon . . 

Tolstoi  (ini)iii) .  . 
Tolstiii  (iiliU'H)  . . 

iCapiiiliii  

Little  /apiiiliii  . . 
/npailiii  lli^ct... 

(torlmlcli 

Anliuiicii 

K..H-    

Siviitch  Kock... 
riiloviiiiMiiiHiii)- 
INilDviiia  rlitl'8). 
I'liloviiiddittlc). 

VoHtncluii 

Morjovi 


IlaroniH. 


182 
147 
r.'O 

;m» 

ll}8 

&h:i 

L'lO 
17(i 

L'7 
504 

Ht) 
45 

!i7r) 


C'uws    I     Aitiml 
(voiint).  i      total. 


3, 152 
•-'.  54;i 
1,474 
(I,  7'.'!l 
1,4118 

10,  (W.'i 
2,40() 
2,  25i; 
5.  224 
.V.O 
8.71'J 
1,0110 
2,  :i87 
1.2118 
770 

15,870 
4,328 


n.oio 

4,  4. 50 
2,  484 

11,775 
2. 1)tl4 

17,(148 
4,  200 
I!.  802 
0,142 
052 

15,258 

1 .  i)07 
4, 177 

2.  4fl« 

27,  148 
7,  77;t 


Total ,      4,S48 


70,361  123,048 


ST.  (iKOiidE, 


!    North 

i    Lillloeaiit 

EuPt 

I    Zaptt(l!ii 

\    Staraya  Artel. 


225 
44 

i;i5 

182 
75 


Total  . 


cm 


Grand  total. i     5,0UI» 

I 


3,801 
701 
2, 3:15 
3,118 
1,297 


tl,  800 
l.ll.'-iO 
4, 1)80 
5,  50» 


II.' 
^r7U3^ 


20, 023 
143,071 


Bobrovi  (Otter  Islamli  liiicl  1  liiircm.  conlainiiiK  5  eow.s  anil  5  pups. 


KE VISION  OF  CENSUS  OF  18[Mi. 


As  already  intimated,  the  estimate  for  St.  George  Island  for  I89(i  is  not  satisfactory. 
That  Little  liast  rookery  was  considerably  underestimated  is  evident  from  a  (sloser 
inspection  of  this  breeding  ground  during  the  season  of  1,S!)7.  The  original  count 
gaveouly  27  harems,  but  probably  included  no  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  rookery. 
As  there  were  but  few  idle  bulls  about  this  rookery,  the  count  of  bulls  made  late  in 
Ju,y  can  not  be  far  out  of  tue  way  here,  and  in  the  absence  of  a  better  estimate  it 
may  be  allowed  to  stand. 

CORIlECrnoNS   on   ST.   tiEOKOE. 

On  Zapadni  and  North  rookeries,  however,  the  number  of  harems  counted  in  the 
latter  part  of  July  can  not  be  accurate.  When  the  rigid  harem  system  breaks  up  and 
the  (U'iginal  harem  masters  begin  to  leave,  the  idle  bulls  (of  which  Miere  were  many 
about  these  rookeries)  enter  the  breeding  grounds,  increasing  the  number  of  families, 


IM 


94 


THE    FUR    SEALS   OF   THE   PRIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


tliough  the  actual  population  has  been  diniiiiishcd  by  the  more  frequent  and  pro- 
loMfjcd  absence  of  the  cows.  TIte  number  of  bulla  therefore  tound  for  those  two 
rookerica  on  July  31  can  not  be  accepted  aa  representing  the  number  of  families  in  the 
breeding  season  and  must  be  reduced. 

CORRECTIONS  ON  ST.   PAUL. 

The  need  for  revision  in  the  census  of  St.  Paul  Island  is  not  so  great;  but  our 
exi»erieiice  during  the  past  season  shows  that  in  all  probability  the  harems  on  Zapadni 
and  Tolstoi  roolveries  were  slightly  overestimated  and  those  on  the  main  part  of 
Polovina  underestimated. 

Zaitadni  rookery  occupies  a  long  gradual  slope  back  of  the  more  abrupt  bowlder 
beach.  This  slope  was  tilled  with  savage  bulls,  making  close  approach  in  189G  impos- 
sible. Tiie  count  of  harems  was  made  from  a  boat  offshore  and  was  not  corrected  by 
a  jount  from  behind.  From  this  pointof  view  of  the  water  the  whole  field  could  not 
be  inspected,  and  the  figures  of  last  year  were  felt  to  be  merely  a  rough  approximation. 
The  estimate  for  those  not  clearly  seen  was  certainly  too  large.  This  year  the  rookery 
!ia(l  shrunk  so  largely  that  observation  points  from  tlie  rear,  commanding  the  entire 
breeding  ground,  could  be  reached.  In  like  manner  the  estimate  of  Tolstoi  for  1890 
was  made  under  ditticulties,  which  were  more  satisfactorily  overcome  in  1897. 

On  Polovina  the  conditions  were  similar  to  those  on  Zapadni.  The  main  part  of 
the  rookery  lies  on  a  gradual  even  slope,  behind  which  the  idle  bulls  were  collected  ii 
such  numbers  as  to  prevent  near  approach,  while  there  was  no  opportunity  to  ".i  •  :ci 
the  rookery  from  the  water.  This  year  the  conditions  wore  so  changed  as  to  pf  nii. 
of  much  closer  inspection,  and  although  the  mass  of  breeding  seals  had  i)Iain!y 
shrunk  at  every  point,  practically  the  same  number  of  harems  were  counted,  making 
an  addition  of  harems  necessary. 

SIVVTOH  ROCK. 

A  third  correction  must  be  made  in  the  estimate  of  Sivutch  Hock.  The  original 
estimate  of  this  rookery  was  made  after  an  insi)ectioii  of  the  rock  with  a  field  glass 
from  the  plateau  of  the  Iteef,  which  showed  21  bulls  in  charge  of  harems  on  the 
northern  face.  At  the  time  of  the  count  of  dead  pups  in  August  a  landing  was 
efi'ccted  and  an  attemjjt  made  to  estimate  the  number  of  harems,  as  the  rookery 
seemed  plainly  greater  than  our  original  estimate  allowed  for.  Sixty-seven  bulls 
occu])ying  iiarems  were  then  found,  though  it  was  plain  that  the  rookery  was  wholly 
disorganized.  This  season  Sivutch  Kock  was  inspected  from  all  sides  in  a  boat  at 
the  height  of  the  season  and  an  adecpiate  notion  of  the  extent  of  the  rookery  obtained. 
Harems  were  found  on  the  southern  side  and  in  places  where  their  presence  was  not 
suspect(!d  in  189G.  The  total  number  counted  in  18!)7  was  lOli.  It  is  therefore 
necessary  to  largely  increase  the  original  estimate  for  this  rookery. 

In  balancing  these  under  and  over  estimates,  however,  they  practically  neutralize 
xjach  other  and  leave  the  total  lor  St.  Paul  for  ISJMJ  about  what  it  was.  For  St.  (leorge 
Island  also  the  difference  resulting  from  the  revision  is  not  great,  being  only  about  GOO 
cows. 

THE  IMPORTANT  COURKCTION  IN  THIO  CENSUS  OF  1896. 

But  the  chief  error  in  the  census  of  1890,  and  this  a])plies  to  both  islands,  lies  in 
the  percentage  of  correction  to  be  added  for  absent  cows.    This  has  already  been 


t 


i 

•I 


idt^* 


Imm  -  ■ 


RKVISED   CENSUS   OP    isnc. 


96 


referred  to.  Tiistead  of  tlie  av»rage  correction  of  75  per  cent,  one  of  1(»0  per  cent 
would  liivve  been  more  nearly  correct.  However,  since  in  the  original  census  of  18!)(j 
and  m  the  census  of  1.S97  Kitovi  rookery  has  beon  taken  a^'  typical  of  the  rookeries  as 
a  whole,  we  may  use  its  percentage  of  correction,  91,  in  tiit  revision.  After  inakin<' 
this  correc.ion  and  siicli  alterations  in  the  estimates  of  harenn-  as  experience  shows  to 
be  advisable,  wo  have  the  following  revised  and  completed  ceiisus  for  tJie  seas.^i  of 


lieHncd  cenaua,  1800. 
ST.  I'AUL. 


liookoi'i'. 


Kitovi 

liaiioon 

I'i)li)viiia  (clitlii) 

Zaiiatliii  Kfi'f 

Liikaniri 

Tdl.stiii' , 

Zapadni' 

Little  Zapadiii.. 

(iorl)at<'li 

Arili;;iii)ii 

Keer 

SiviitclH 

IVIoviiift'^ 

Littl.'  Pi.liivina.. 

Viistoclini 

Morjdvi 


Total  . 


ST.  GEORGE. 


N'i)rlli« 

L;*lle  Kant  . 
Ka8i, 


Zapacliii' 

Staniva  Aiti'l. 


Total . 


KECAI'ITI'LATION. 


St.  I'aiil. 

St.CBIM" 


(iraiicl  liital. 


Unreins. 


Pll]»H 
(COW8). 


182 

fl,040 

IM 

3.481 

80 

2,  4<.I6 

17B 

I),  S02 

147     i 

4.  «80 

4li7     1 

15.  Mi 

54;t 

18.  (i'.'7 

•J  10 

4.  .W 

;i()2 

10,  (JJB 

27 

'8118 

Mi 

16,  7112 

1115 

3,  480 

l.'i:i 

5.073 

<■) 

1,  4B4 

'.175 

32.  37(1 

L'ii;) 

!t.  727 

4,  335 


137.  fi9« 


2(10 

6.  04(1 

44 

1,  3."iO 

135 

4.  482 

143 

4.747 

75 

2,  490 

.597 


lU,  709 


4,  335 
507 


4.  !132 


137.09(1 
19,70!) 


157,4(15     I 


I  A  rcdnrtioii  of  3(1  liaivnin  from  th.^  oiiuiiial  OHliniato. 
'  A  riiliictioii  (if  411  liari'ins. 

•^'^^•"Sii'SHiJiliS"'"'" '''"^  i:.:;";..;=/;;:ar  iirtc;^^  '■■"•"  ""■  '-^"^ 

'An  incieiisii  of  15  liarenis. 
•A  iliM-iiMiae  of  2.j  hartims. 
'  A  (IctTcasp  of  39  liareiiis. 


I 


sloiodiacttnled. 


11'  llif  rookiTv  Kiider 


t( 

189(> 


IS 

of 


THK   VALUE   OF   THIS  CENSUS. 

This  elaborated  and  corrected  <.ensus  of  I8(Hi  gives  our  best  possible  judgment  a? 
.  hecoiM.tions  on  the  rookeries  of  St.  l>aul  and  Ht.  (ioorge  during  the  season  ol 
^J<..  ILe revision  aud  alteration  which  have  been  found  necessarv  make  the  estimate 
more  or  leas  unsatisfactory.  Hut  no  other  result  could  be  ex,)ected.  The  census  wis 
a  growth  and  an  experiment  from  the  start.  The  comlitions  under  which  it  ought  to 
have  been  made  wore  not  understood  uutil  the  time  was  passed.    Notwithstanding 


i 


•JG 


THE   FUR   tSEALS   OF   THE   PRIBILOF   ISLANDS. 


all  this  the  total  results  as  hero  given  are  close  enough  to  the  actual  conditions  for  all 
l)ractical  purposes.  The  total  of  157,4U5  breeding  seals  means  between  150,000  and 
100,0<M).  No  closer  accura<;y  is  claimed  for  the  figures,  and  uoue  is  needed.  The  margin 
of  error  can  not  be  greater  than  this. 


THE  CENSUS  OF  1897. 


'^n'S 


In  making  the  census  of  1897  no  such  diiliculty  as  tliat  encountered  in  1896  was 
met  with.  From  the  start  we  had  a  clear  idea  of  the  proolem  and  were  guided  by  the 
experience  obtained  in  the  work  of  the  former  season.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  was 
to  make  a  full  enumeration  of  the  breeding  harems  on  all  the  rookeries  at  the  height 
of  the  season.  The  remaiidug  step  was  to  obtain  an  average  size  of  harem  by  making 
a  count  of  live  pups  on  some  typical  rookery  space.  Accordingly  between  the  period 
of  July  13  and  20  the  cou'it  of  harems  was  made.  For  purposes  of  comparison  the 
I'ows  actually  present  on  rookeries  counted  last  year  were  recounted  this  year  on 
the  same  dates. 

THE  COUNT  OF  I'UPS  IN  1897. 

The  count  of  pups  was  made  between  the  28th  of  July  and  the  3d  of  August. 
A  comparison  of  the  nun  '  ij  of  pups  with  the  number  of  cows  counted  showed  clearly 
the  inadetjuacy  of  our  coi   ."  f  75  per  cent  for  absent  cows  in  the  original  census 

of  1896.    These  counts  of  co .        .1  pups  for  1897  are  as  foll<)W8: 

Comparison  of  counts  of  eows  and  pups,  1897, 


Rookery. 


(^'OWB 

jircBent. 


I'lips. 


Kitovi ' 

I.ngimn ; 

/.nni-.lni  Itocf 

l>oli>viiiH  (ilill's)  I 

Aiil  iKiK^n i 

Little  KHst ' 

Total '      6,518 


2,4;m 

S,  289 

i,:iin 

•i.  598 

1,04» 

3,041 

74- 

2,200 

47': 

7aO 

497 

1,190 

15, 054 


I 


THE  PUOPORTION  OF  OOWS  TO  PUPS. 

These  counts  sc-m  to  show  that  the  cows  belonging  to  any  rookery  for  the  season 
arc  about  2.61  times  as  numerous  as  the  cows  found  present  at  any  one  time  in  the 
height  of  the  season.  But  an  examination  of  the  figures  for  Zapadni  Reef  and  for 
Polovina  cliffs  indicates  an  abnormal  condition  of  things  on  these  rookeries.  In  both 
cases  the  pups  outnumber  the  cows  nearly  three. to  one.  It  would  seem  likely  that 
the  weather  or  some  t>ther  cause  had  on  these  rookeries  protluced  an  unusual  effect 
for  the  day  when  the  counts  were  made. 

In  view  of  this  apparently  abnormal  condition  in  part  of  the  rookeries  counted, 
it  has  been  thought  best  in  the  census  of  1897  to  waive  the  general  average  results 
a><d  take  the  simple  conditions  of  Kitovi  rookery  as  again  typical.  We  find  from  a 
comparison  of  this  rookery  for  the  two  seasons  that  its  condition  is  apparently 
normal.  In  1896  there  were  182  harems,  3,152  cows  present  on  July  13,  in  the 
height  of  the  season,  and  6,049  pups  in  August;  in  1897  there  were  179  harems,  2,436 
cows  actually  present  on  the  same  date,  and  5,289  pups  in  August. 


all 
iiul 
giu 


ran 

he 
as 
Ijt 

od 
liti 
m 


CENSUS   OF    KOOKEKIE8,  18U7. 
TUE  AVEllAttK  HAUEM  OF  KITOVI. 


97 


1...  J.         rl     '    "^  ''•  "*  ^'^*'  ^y  ^^^'  ^'^^  ""'"^•^•-  «f  ^^^'•«'"«'  ^^«  «»'•  tl'o  average 
bare,,.  «t  K,t«vi  rookery  to  contain  .9.5  cows.    This  harem  is  applied  to  all  the 

rookeries  on  which  only  counts  of  harems  were  made.    Where  p„ps  were  counted,  the 

hgures  so  ob ta„,ed  are  used  without  change.    The  only  .lifference  in  the  met!  od  of 

computing  the  census  of  1897  from  that  <.f  1890  is  in  the  dropping  out  ot    he 

n^rmeCate  step  of  con.pletlng  the  provisional  census  of  cows 'and  aLwarS 

adding  the  necessary  correction  for  absentees.    This  step,  now  that  the  conditions 

are  known,  beconies  superrtuous.    Constructed  on  this  basis  the  following  is  the 

conipleted  census  of  breeding  seals  for  the  two  islands  for  the  season  of  1897 : 

Cemus,  1S97. 
ST.  ,'Al-i,. 


KitoW 

Lagoon  

Foloviiia  (i:lirt'»). 

/Capadni  iteef 

I.iikaniu 

Tolfttoi 

/Cnpaiini 

,<ittle  /Capiuliii. .. 

tlorbatch 

Anligucn 

Keel'. 


Siviitcli 

I'oloviria 

,.ittlc  ,'oloviiia. 

V'oNtocliiii 

Morjovi 


Tcitnl . 


Hoolcery. 


HurvuiB. 

I'llJIH 

1 

(COWS). 

179 

5,  28» 

iir> 

•1.  rm 

Ul 

•i.  2(fl 

114 

3,  (P41 

13U 

4,  lUU 

;i».'i 

1I,5U3 

4'iH 

13,511 

178 

:>.  i!»2 

:iU8 

0,086 

33 

730 

4r)4 

13,  3!)3 

Wl 

3,  UUO 

143 

4.  L'lH 

40 

1,  18(1 

SMll 

liO,  84-, 

1!33 

«,  873 

3,858 


112.864 


T(ptal . 


ST.  GEOK(JI0. 


North 

Little  Kant . . . 

East 

/apailiii 

Starif  Art.'l... 


196 

5,  782 

46 

1,  1911 

12H 

3,  776 

133 

3,  923 

57 

l,liHl 

16,  352 


St.  ,'aul 

St.  Gi'orKe 


Total  . 


UECAPIXITLATION. 


3. 8.5H  112,864 

'•*!»  1(1, 352 


4,418 


129,  216 


TIIK  \ALl-K  OK  THE  tlENSUs  KOi;  ixii". 

Whatever  doubt  or  uncertainty  may  e.xist  regarding  the  census  of  189«  thee  is 
none  with  regard  to  that  for  1897.    No  estimates  were  made.    The  count  <^- 1  ^n 

made.  J^^ot  claiming  infallibility  for  these  figures,  the  margin'of  error  is  ^ht- 


*  L 
jiil 


! 


!tS 


IHE    FUK    SEALS    UK    THE    PKIIULOK    ISLANDS. 


Kioui  this  ceiisiis  we  luivo  therefore  a  total  of  4,418  hreediiifj  hulls  and  12!»,15Hi 
brt'odiiij;  (tows  for  the  season  of  18!)7.  Each  of  these  cows  bore  a  imp  during'  the 
season.  Tiieic  were  therefore  a  total  of  l!(ili,850  "breeding;-  seals  and  younfj"  at  one 
time  or  anotlier  on  the  rookeries  of  the  I'ribilof  Islaiids  dnrinj>'  the  jiast  season. 

Thus  far  our  census  of  tlie  fur  seals  can  lay  claim  to  accuracy,  but  it  does  not 
cover  all  classes  of  animals,  and  wheu  we  attempt  to  extend  it  beyond  the  breedinj; 
herd  to  include  idle  bulls,  bachelors,  and  yearling  and  li-yearold  females,  we  must 
leave  facts  and  begin  to  theorize. 

TllK    KNUMKRATION    OK    NONHKKKDINti    SKAI.S. 

During  the  season  of  18  (>  a  rough  apino.viniatiou  was  made  of  the  class  of  males 
known  as  idle  bulls.  The  nuni'"  .'  found  in  close  proximity  to  the  breeding  grouuds 
was  estimated  at  about  3,000.  No  attempt  was  made  to  include  animals  located  on 
various  sand  beaches  and  such  hauling  grounds  as  those  of  Hivutch  Kock,  Zapadni 
Head,  Lagoon,  etc.  The  enumeration  of  this  class  of  bulls  was  therefore  only  ])artial 
at  best.  On  certain- rook  -ries  where  they  were  counted  last  year,  counts  were  nuide 
this  year  for  comparison,  but  beyond  this  nothing  was  done  or  t-ould  be  done.  <  )nly  a 
general  estimate  of  idle  bulls  <;an  therefore  be  given,  but  the  number  would  seem  to 
be  not  far  from  o,000,  or  in  round  numl»ers.  a  nund)er  etiual  to  those  occupied. 

lUl.K.    AND   HALF    HI  LI,S. 

In  addition  to  these  idle  bulls  the  hauling  grounds  and  tlie  water  front  were  full 
of  young  half  bulls,  .">  and  6  years  of  age,  which  had  not  yet  even  attempted  to  secure 
places  on  the  rookeries.  From  the  killing  grounds  during  the  present  season  8,000  of 
these  animals  nere  turned  bac^k  from  the  drives.  As  some  of  the  young  bulls  may 
have  been  driven  two,  three,  and  even  four  times  from  the  same  iiauling  ground,  this 
number  can  iu)t  be  taken  at  its  face  value.  Hut  in  corners  of  many  of  the  hauling 
grouiuls,  in  the  runways  on  the  Reef  and  in  the  various  ravines  on  Zapadni,  large 
numbers  of  these  animals  were  not  disturbed  at  all,  while  the  water  front  of  all  the 
rookeries  was  lined  with  them.  A  fair  estimate  of  the  young  bulls  would  not  fall 
far  short  of  10,(MK).  This  class  represents  chielly  the  natural  reserve  which  has 
accumulated  from  the  escape  of  the  animals  of  killable  age  since  180o.  The  idle  bulls 
as  a  cliiss  and  the  oldesr  of  the  half  bulls  are  the  afterniiith  of  the  modus  vivendi. 


rilK,    UAC'IIKLOKS. 

But  these  animals  are  not  numerous  and  their  record  is  not  important.  It  is 
concerning  the  hacheh)rs  below  killable  age  and  the  cows  below  breeding  age  that  we 
ought  to  have  exact  information,  but  can  not  get  it.  it  is  impossible  to  count  the 
yearling  and  L'yearold  bachelors.  They  do  not  arrive  at  the  islands  until  late  in 
the  season.  They  occujiy  their  iiauling  grouiuls  very  irregularly,  coming  and  going 
from  the  water  acct»rding  to  pleasure  and  the  state  of  the  weather. 

UK.IKCTKl)   SEALS. 

From  the  killing  grounds  during  the  present  season  15,000  aniunds  too  small  to 
kill  were  turne<l  back.  As  in  case  of  the  young  bulls,  .some  of  these,  [terhajis  many, 
were  driven  and  redriven;    .several  drives  being  made  from  eatOi  hauling  grourul 


ESTIJIATK    OF    YOUNU    FUR    SEALS. 


•J9 


(luring  thu  season.  The  actual  niiinber  represented  by  this  total  of  rejected  animals 
(•an  not  be  exactly  deteruiiued.  From  this  it  would  seem  necessary  to  suppose  that 
by  no  means  all  the  younger  seals  appear  on  the  hauling  grounds  during  the  killing 
season.  In  fact  the  records  of  the  drives  show  that  it  is  only  after  the  middle  ot 
July  that  the  yearlings  begin  to  arrive  in  numbers.  The  older  bachelors  appear 
earliest,  and  by  the  time  the  killing  season  is  over  the  great  majority  of  the  killable 
seals  are  secured,  leaving  the  population  of  the  hauling  grounds  almost  exclusively 
yearlings  and  2-year-olds. 

TIIK   1   AND  :.'-YKAK-(>IJ)  FKMAKKS. 

What  has  been  said  about  the  1  and  li-year-old  ba(;heh)rs  applies  e(inally  well  to 
the  same  class  of  females.  These  do  not  appear  on  the  islands  l<eforu  the  Ist  of 
August.  The  2-yearolds  come  on  the  breeding  grounds  and  are  sciittered  about 
among  the  harems,  spending  a  few  days  and  leaving.  They  come  and  go  at  intervals 
during  the  rest  of  the  season,  playing  among  the  pui»8  in  comitany  with  their  yearling 
sisters.    It  will  never  be  possible  to  enumerate  these  younger  classes  of  seals. 

THE   LOSSKS   AMON(J   Y(»lIN(i    SKALt!. 

One  element  of  nncertainty  regarding  all  the  younger  classes  of  seals  lies  in  the 
absence  of  any  definite  information  regarding  the  losses  they  sustain  at  sea  during 
their  early  migrations.  \Ve  know  that  such  loss  must  be  great,  but  that  is  all.  From 
all  the  ^l.ita  at  hand  it  seems  certain  that  not  more  than  one-third  of  the  ])ups  born  in 
any  particular  year  survive  to  killable  or  breeding  age.  This  percentage  nmst  have 
been  still  smaller  in  the  earlier  days,  when  the  herd  was  more  crowded  and  occupied 
to  greater  extent  the  sandy  areas.  Donbtless,  when  the  herd  was  at  its  maximum,  in 
the  seventies,  not  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  pups  reached  the  age  of  3  y((ars. 

It  is  fortunate  that  no  vital  importance  attaches  to  the  exact  number  of  these 
younger  animals.  The  important  matter  is  the  number  of  breeding  animals,  and  this 
we  have.  But  it  is  worth  while  to  construct  an  estimate  of  the  yonng(!r  classes,  if 
sucii  a  thing  can  be  done,  and  in  the  (piota  of  the  yvnv  1897  we  have  a  basis  for  fairly 
satisfactorv  results. 


It  is 

that  we 

)unt  the 

late  in 

d  j-oinj" 


THE  ESTIMATE  OF   NONBKEEinNG  .SEALS. 

JJuring  this  season  a  ((uota  in  round  numbers  of  liO.OOU  skins  was  taken  on  the 
Pribilof  Islaiuls.  This  number  included  some  2-year-olds  and  sonu'  4-year-olds,  but  as  a 
rule  the  aninuils  taken  were  Syear-ohls.  Some  3-year  olds  were  left  over,  and  some  that 
would  have  been  3-year  olds  in  1S97  had  been  killed  as  2-year  olds  in  18!t(».  Wo  miglit 
even  the  matter  up  and  say  that  the  (juota  practically  represented  the  normal  (piota 
of  animals  of  3  years  old.  ISut  as  there  are  elements  of  uncertainty  in  the  i)roblem,  to 
be  on  the  safe  side  and  for  the  i>urposes  of  argument,  we  may  suppose  that  there  was 
a  maximiun  of  2r),()0(»  3-year-old  nuiles  which  did  or  should  have  survived  in  1897  from 
tlic  birth  rate  (»f  1894.  An  eiiual  number  of  females  survived  from  the  same  year. 
These  young  l)reed(a's,  which  came  upon  the  rookeries  to  bear  their  lirst  pups  in  1897, 
have  already  been  included  in  the  estimate  of  breeding  cows. 

As  nearly  as  we  can  judge,  the  total  birth  rate  for  the  year  1894  was  approximately 
200,(H»0.    Of  these,  under  normal  c(mditions,  about  one-third,  or  s<»mething  like  «!.j,(KK>, 


M 


100  THE   FUK   8KAL8   OK   THE    I'KIUILOF   ISLANDS. 

should  have  survived.  Tlio  differeuce  b»!twcen  this  number  and  tlic  riO,()(lO  wliicli  we 
hav<!  tbuud  to  actually  survive  is  accounted  for  by  the  starvation  of  pups  in  J!S<J1. 

Treating  in  the  same  manner  the  approximate  birth  rate  of  i7(),(H)U  pups  in  l.S!>r», 
we  tlnd  that,  after  making  the  deductions  for  loss  through  natural  causes  and  from 
starvation,  i)robably  40,000  returned  as  L'-year-olds  in  1S97. 

Of  the  100,000  pups  born  last  year  treated  in  like  manner,  probably  00,000 
appeared  in  1807  as  yearlings. 

THE  OOMl'I.KTE   KSTIMATE  I'OU  ANIMALS  OF   ALL  ('LASSES. 

This  completes  our  estimate  of  the  younger  classes  of  seals.  The  ligures  are 
merely  rough  approximations  and  are  to  be  considered  as  such.  They,  however, 
point  in  the  direction  of  the  truth  and  are  probably  not  far  from  it.  Putting  these 
various  estimates  in  tabular  form  we  have  the  following  completed  estimate  of  all 
classes  of  animals  on  the  rookeries  of  the  Pribilof  Islands  for  the  season  of  1807 ; 

Animals  presetil  at  om:  linif  or  another,  season  of  1897. 

BreotlinK  lemnles 120, 216 

I'lips  lioru I2!t,  2Ui 

Active  bullN »,  118 

Idle  bulls  (ni>i)roxiiHate) 5,(100 

llttlf  bulls  (aiiproxiiiiate) 10,  (KX) 

Tlireo-yeiir-old  males  (approxiiiiiito) 25.  (XH) 

Two-year-olds  of  both  sexes  (approxiuiiite) 10,  (M)0 

Yearlings  of  botli  sexes  (approximate) tiO,  000 

Total 102,  «50 

In  round  numbers,  therefore,  there  were  on  the  Pribilof  Islands  at  one  time  or 
another  during  the  season  of  1897  400,000  seals  of  all  classes.  We  wish  to  again 
emphasize  the  fact  that  these  figures,  in  so  far  as  they  refer  to  other  classes  of  aniunds 
than  the  breeding  seals  and  young,  are  mere  approximations. 

UEDICTIONS   FOR   LOSSES. 

These  animals  were  of  course  not  all  alive  at  the  (•h)se  of  the  season.  Their 
number  had  been  reduced  from  various  causes,  as  the  death  of  nursing  pups,  jteiagi*! 
sealing,  and  the  filling  of  the  «|nota.  These  losses  to  the  herd  may  be  estimated  as 
tbllows: 

.liiiintils  knoivn  Ui  hare  ilird  from  riirious  caiisis,  season  1SD7. 

Pups,  Iroiri  I'lieiiiaria,  trampling,  etc , estiiiiatod..  7,  750 

Tups,  from  starvation do 11,  (HM) 

IJachelors  (<|Uota) 20,  800 

I'elagie  catch  (Ueriug  Sea) 10,  KM 

Total 5i»,  KM 

Total  alive  during  season 102, 850 

Total  dead 50,  101 

Total  alive  October  15,  1897 343,740 


THK   ('OI'NT   OF    PtlPS. 
TIIK   WhVK  or  Till.;  ESTIMA'IK. 


101 


TIu,  woakneas  of  tlie  forogoiiijj  estimate  Iie«  in  tiio  lltiiirea  (or  tl.o  nonbreedinrr 
iimnials.  It  is  woikinl  out  merely  because  such  au  estimate  is  askod  for  in  onr 
mHtru,.t,ons.  TI.e  Hprnes,  however,  satisfy  the  conditions  an.l  we  believe  approximate 
the  truth  as  closely  as  it  can  be  reached  at  the  present  time.  For  the  estin.ate  of 
breeding  annuals,  which  is  really  the  important  thing,  we  have  no  apology  to  offer. 
It  IS  practically  exact. 

ti.«  !''  f'"'!'"^<^«  *'■«  •"«*  el^^mont  of  uncertainty  in  arriving  at  a  full  enumeration  of 
the  herd  It  is  only  necessary  to  continue  the  census  of  the  breeding  herd  each  year 
for  a  certau.  period.  Knowing  the  number  of  pups  born  in  18!»0,  i"  1S!>D  it  wiU  bo 
possible  from  the  .piota  of  that  year  to  toll  with  reasonable  exac  ness  the  n«  ber 
ev';:?  rrrirtr  "i^'l^'^Vr-,  ^^ '^"  --••  — ^mg  year  the  data  will  bec^i  o 
!^    /;  r       1  ;'       ;"'".  "'f  ' '"^•^^-''-^"^  «='»  ^""^  o-^'^'-^y  whut  <,nota  to  expect  and 

b  I  tl    rate  o    any  year  and  the  quota  of  three  years  later  can  be  .letermined.      n 

detelX"  ""  ''•"^'^ ""'  '"'  ^""  *'^  '^"•^'^  ••"*«  "•■  *•'-«  ^-'-  P-vious  can  ie 

THE  TRUE   HA.srS  OF  ENITMEUA'JION. 

i,  n  J''**  ""'y  reliable  basis  of  enumeration  has  been  found  and  demonstrated.    This 

o.  the.    f         '7%     '"  »•"'"'  '^'  '-'  "'"''  '^'•^  «-^«*l  '■»  *"«'r  P'--eH  on  the  rook  'ry 

o.  the  f  rst  SIX  weeks  of  their  lives.    Their  mothers  may  come  and  go,  but  they  re  ni  f 

It  .8  not  necessary  that  all  the  pups  on  all  the  rookeries  be  con^te.l.     It  wou      be 

mpossible  to  make  a  count  on  the  larger  rookeries.     But  if  .some  typ   al "k  ,s 

ieel';.  r:;"*n' h"''  ^T'""*"^';'""  *"^  — -^^--ot-  barem,  and 'then         1  .en' 

being     iplicl  to  them,  a  census  exact  enough  for  everv  j.urpose  can  be  obf  lii  e.l 


^ 


CIIAPTKU    VI  r, 

THE  DECLINE  OF  THE  HERD. 

ITS   HISTORY. 

It  neressiirily  follows  from  the  foregoiiifj  review  of  past  and  present  conditions 
that  tiie  fur-seal  herd  of  the  I'ribilof  Islands  has  largely  declined  since  it  came  into 
the  possession  of  the  United  States.  That  this  decline  is  still  in  i)roKress  is  shown 
by  the  decrease  in  breeding  seals  between  the  seasons  of  1800  and  1807  and  in  the 
diminished  quota.  We  may  now  take  up  in  detail  a  consideration  of  this  decline  and 
endeavor  to  trace  its  history  and  find  its  cause. 

RUSSIAN  MANAGEMENT. 

Of  the  condition  of  the  fur-seal  herd  before  it  came  inder  American  control  in 
18(>7  we  have  but  little  ik'finite  infovmation.  That  it  had  a  varied  history  we  know. 
The  excessive  slaughter  which  threatened  its  existence  in  1790  was  stopped  by  the 
advent  of  the  Itussian-Americau  Company.  Under  the  earlier  years  of  its  rt'^inie, 
however,  the  seals  were  indiscriminately  slaughtered,  females  as  well  as  males,  the 
only  ditfereuco  being  that  it  was  limited  slaughter. 

GRADUAL  IMPROVEMENT  IN  METHODS. 

(xradually  the  habits  and  needs  of  the  herd  began  to  be  understood  by  the 
Russians  and  more  conservative  methods  came  into  vogue.  After  some  catastrophe 
which  involved  the  herd  about  the  year  1834,  of  which  the  cause  is  not  clearly 
known,  the  killing  of  females  was  prohibited,  and  for  twenty  or  thirty  years  before 
the  transfer  to  the  United  States  in  1867  the  killing  was  limited,  as  now,  t(»  the 
supertluous  males.  On  coming  into  the  control  of  the  United  States  the  herd  was  in 
a  growing  and  ]»rosperous  condition. 

THE  EQUILIBRIUM  OF  THE  HERD. 

From  the  growing  ease  with  which  the  quota  was  tilled  in  the  years  1871-1875, 
as  shown  by  the  gradual  recession  of  the  date  at  which  the  requirtd  number  of  skins 
could  be  obtained,  we  may  infer  that  the  herd  even  increased  somewhat.  For  a  few 
years  longer,  or  until  1880  or  thereabouts,  the  herd  appears  to  have  remained  in  a  state 
of  etiuilibrium,  or  at  least  a  state  in  which  there  was  neither  marked  increase  nor 
decrease.  It  is  probable  that  during  this  period  the  annual  increment  of  breeders 
was  practically  balanced  by  the  vsirious  checks  acting  upon  the  herd,  chief  among 
which  were  the  natural  mortality  among  the  young  upon  land  and  the  natural  death 
of  adult  females  at  sea  from  old  age. 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  DECLINE. 

About  the  year  1884,  and  more  particularly  after  1886,  a  decline  be^an  to  be 
observable,  gradual  at  first,  then  more  rapid,  becoming  iu  the  year  loOO  alarming. 

102 


THK   l/UOTA   OF   KIM,ABI-R   SEALS 


lo:? 


Uti, 


This  dtM-nsast'  in  tiio  htsrd  was  llrst  Telt  iii  u  .shil'tiii},'  of  tlie  liaiiliiiK  Krounds  iiiid 
alterwiirds  in  a  !,'r(»win>i  srarcity '  of  the  iiillabh^  seals  lrc<iueiitinf>'  them.  From  the 
year  1H71,  a  iinota  of  100,(MM>  siiins  iiad  been  rtnuimlly  talien.  After  l.S8.'(,  tlie 
date  at  whieli  this  number  conld  be  obtained  from  the  lianlin^  grounds  became 
rehitively  hiter,  reciiiirinj^  more  frei|iient  and  hiter  driving.  I'inally  it  was  necessary 
successively  t()  lower  the  grade  of  kiUable  seals,  until  in  IH.S!>  t(»  j^ct  the  <|uota  of 
1(H),(H)(>  nearly  the  entire  bachelor  herd,  down  to  an<l  including  most  of  the  yearlings, 
was  taken.     In  IHiMJ  the  (iollapse  came,  when  only  :JI,0(M>  skins  could  be  secure<l. 

THE  FAILURE  OF  THE  QUOTA. 

The  sudden  drop  from  a  (|Uota  of  1(K),0(»0  in  18S!»  to  JlttMMJ  in  1S!I(»  of  course  does 
not  represent  a  correspondingly  sudden  drop  in  the  breeding  herd.  In  the  latter 
the  decrease  has  been  gradual  but  steady,  the  delitMcmiy  in  breeding  «m»ws  lessening  the 
birthrate  of  pups,  which  in  turn  diminished  the  annual  incrcmentof  ■'(  year  old  breeders. 
It  also  indirectly  alVected  the  hauling  groinuls  by  diminishing  the  supply  of  bachelors, 
and  this  was  the  ell'ect  which  first  nuule  itself  felt.  As  seals  of  the  proi)er  age 
became  scuirce  the  quota  was  tilled  by  lowering  the  age  to  2  years  and  afterwards  by 
including  the  larger  yearlings,  thus  anticipating  the  quota  of  succeeding  years.  Sucli 
a  (bourse  of  action  would  not  have  been  indulged  in  except  for  the  fact  that  the  lease 
under  which  the  islaiuls  were  then  held  was  approaching  its  e\])iration. 

THE  BREEDING  HERD. 

The  fall  in  the  bachelor  herd  servcul  to  call  attention  forcibly  to  the  coiulition  of 
the  breeding  herd,  a  matter  which  up  to  that  time  had  rec^eived  no  attention,  interest 
iteing  centered  solely  in  the  quota  of  the  bachelors.  Sin(H'  189(>  the  breeding  herd  has 
been  more  or  less  constantly  under  investigation,  the  results  of  which,  however,  owing 
to  misinterpretation  of  some  of  the  important  facts  of  rookery  life  and  devel.quuent, 
leave  us  confused  and  uncertain  as  to  the  actual  number  of  animals  consr itvting  the 
breeding  herd  during  these  years  though  they  leavi;  no  doubt  as  to  its  cuntinued 
decline. 

THE  QUOTA  SINCE  1890. 

In  the  meantime  events  c(Uispiredto  confuse  the  hitherto  delinite  results  obtained 
from  the  history  of  the  (piota.  During  the  years  18!)l-!>3  land  killing  was  limited 
under  the  modus  vivendi  to  7,r»00  annually.  After  this  long  rest,  when  it  would  have 
been  natural  t(»  expect  an  increased  quota,  only  a  limited  one  was  taken,  a  fact  which 
seems  to  arise  rather  from  restrictions  in  the  methods  of  driving  than  from  the  huik 
of  seals.  We  Hud  from  the  table  of  daily  killing  (Appendix  1)  that  during  18!)4-!>.'» 
only  two  drives  each  were  made  from  the  various  hauling  grounds  in  the  killing 
season.  Middle  Hill  was  not  driven  from  at  all  in  18!).'),  uor  Kuglish  Hay  in  1894. 
The  (juotas  of  1(!,0(K)  ami  1  r»,000,  respectively,  for  these  years  do  not  therefore  give  any 
detinite  information  as  to  the  nornnd  condition  of  the  bachelor  herd. 

THE  QUOTAS  OF  1894-95. 

The  probable  failure  to  take  the  full  (piota  ii>  iSl<l-9o,  aided  in  189(5  to  further 
confuse  matters  when  normal  driving  was  resumt*i.  In  tins  latter  year  every  im- 
portant hauling  ground  was  driven  from  at  least  three  times  and  some  of  them  four 

'  .See  table  otMrivi's  auil  liniilin^  groinuls,  j>.  123. 


104 


TIIR    PUR   HRALH   OF   THR    PRinil-OF   ISl.ANDft. 


tiiiu's,  tiiurci  hciii);  lU  diivus,  including  :(1  liniiliii^;  groniidH.  In  lH!)t  but  14  drivoH 
wolf  made  tVoiii  ir>  liaiiling  grounds  mid  in  1S!>5  V2  driveH  from  an  vqnal  nuinhor 
of  liaiiliii^r  gruiinds.  Tlie  (iiiota  of  30,(MH)  taken  in  IHiNi  wivm  tlierefort;  affected  in  a 
iiieaHure  by  tlie  nu^'ure  of  the  killiiiff  of  tlie  HeaHoiiH  immediately  |)re*-ediiiK>  Tiie 
(|iiota  of  IHilT  i.v  more  nearly  normal,  but  with  the  yeaiH  ititinediately  preceding;  it 
ran  not  properly  be  (ompared. 

Hilt  if  these  iiiatterH  have  tended  to  (roiifiise  the  data  which  mi^ht  have  led  to  a 
dethiite  iiieaHiiie  of  decline,  they  do  not  obHciire  the  fact  of  decline.  ThiH  in  every- 
where distinct  and  unmistakable. 


THE  EVIDENCE  OF  DECLINE. 
AIIANDONEI)   OROrNDS. 

To  the  eye  of  the  observer  perhaps  the  most  strikiiii;  proof  of  decline  is  in  the 
abandoned  rookery  spaces.  On  the  rear  and  on  either  side  of  the  present  rookery 
areas  are  great  tracts  of  ground  which  were  once  occui)ied,  but  which  are  now  grass- 
grown.  Tlie  evidence  of  former  occupation  is  to  be  seen  in  the  felt-like  miuciiig  of 
liair  over  the  surface,  in  the  smooth  condition  of  the  stones,  worn  by  the  moving 
animals,  and  especially  in  the  |>cculiar  vegetation  covering  the  area.  Tliese  abantloned 
grounds  are  now  covered  with  line  yellow  grass,  known  as  <'seal  grass,''  which  grows 
here  and  nowhere  else. 

OR  ASS-GROWN   AREAS. 

On  some  of  the  rookeries  this  grass-grown  area  shows  three  distinct  stages. 
Close  to  the  space  at  present  occupied  is  a  narrow  belt  of  ground,  which  is  still  occasion- 
ally wandered  over  by  the  seals,  and  on  which  the  grass  is  judt  beginning  to  spring  up 
in  spots  protected  by  stones.  This  area  shades  imperceptibly  into  the  absolutely 
bare  region  now  regularly  occupied.  Behind  this  space  lies  an  urea  of  dark  r  n 
grass,  covering  ground  not  now  entered  by  the  seals.    The  luxuriant  growth  s 

grass  is  due  to  the  fertilizing   matter  in  the  more  recently  abandoned  gr 
Beyond  this  there  is  an  extensive  area  of  thinner  yellowish  grass  of  the  same  general 
character,  its  less  vigorous  growth  probably  connected  with  the  impoverished  condition 
of  the  soil. 

THEIR  KXTENT. 

On  several  of  the  rookeries  these  three  areas  iire  clearly  defined,  and  on  all  of 
them  the  yellow-grass  area  is  very  extensive.  On  the  hauling  ground  of  Lukaniii 
rookery  ineasuiements  made  during  the  season  of  liSi)0  show  the  area  of  dark  grass  to 
be  l(>  feet  in  width  and  the  area  of  yellow  grass  04  feet.  The  area  on  which  the  grass 
is  Just  starting  is  less  definite,  aud  can  not  be  measured  accurately.  The  outward 
line  of  the  yellow-grass  region  marks  the  extreme  limit  of  ground  at  any  time  occupied 
by  the  seals.    The  dark  green  area  marks  a  stage  of  more  recent  abaixioninent. 

On  certain  hauling  grounds  the  area  of  abandoned  territory  is  anywhere  from  ten 
to  twenty  times  the  area  at  present  occupied.  This,  iiowever,  does  i:ot  mean  that 
there  has  been  a  corresponding  decrease  in  the  bachelor  herds.  Observations  show 
that  a  small  band  of  bachelors  can  in  a  few  days  denude  a  large  grass- <;rown  area  if 
they  begin  to  wander  and  sleep  upon  it.  Five  or  six  times  the  presei>t  number  of 
bachelors  would  doubtless  denude  all  these  areas. 


VALUE   OF    PlIOTOCiKAniS. 


I  or. 


Tlit>s4'  iil>»ii<l()ii(>(l  iir»tiH,  whilw  tliuy  ilo  not  jrive  exact  iiirorinution  rcKanliiiK  tlio 
ainoiiiit  of  fleiTtniNo,  ctM-taiiily  do  otl'ur  iiniuiHtakablo  uviiltMuu^  of  a  lar^ci  dectrcuHU. 
Tlut  preHtMicc,  of  Mie  dark  ^^rotMi  (frasH  area  hIiowh  also  tliat  part  ol  tli«^  dvcrcaNi^  liaH 
liciMi  r<>(;t>iit,  wliilo  the  area  wlitn-e  tliu  ^rasH  is  jiiHt  HtartiiiK  indicates  tiiat  it  iH  Htiil 
);oing  on. 

TIIK   TIMK  NECKSSABV   TO   KSTAHLISIf   TIIKSK   AKKAS. 

The  period  iiecessarj'  for  tliese  >jrassRrown  areas  to  become  established  was  the 
subject  of  much  debate  in  1802.  In  that  year  a  small  plot  of  (ground,  then  entirely 
bare,  was  marked  ott'  with  cairns  of  stones.  It  is  now  closely  tilled  with  the  (charac- 
teristic "seal"  grass  and  other  vegetation,  including  saxifrage  and  wormwood.  This 
furnishes  proof  that  within  four,  or  at  most  tlve,  seaaons  an  area  abandoned  by  the 
seals  may  become  grass-grown.  The  yellow-grass  areas  are  therefore  not  ol  too 
remote  date  to  be  identified  with  the  decline  of  the  herd,  which  began  to  nutke  itself 
felt  about  the  year  1884,  thirteen  years  ago. 

PHOTOGRAPHS. 

A  second  evideiuie  of  decline  is  to  be  found  in  the  com|)arative  condition  of  the 
rookeri(;s  as  shown  by  the  annual  series  of  jthotographs  whi(;h  have  been  taken 
ea<!h  year  since  1892.  On  certain  rookeries,  which  lie  for  the  m«>st  part  within 
circumscribed  limits  on  bowlder  beaidies,  diHereuces  are  not  clearly  marked;  nor 
do  the  photographs  of  one  yea  (compared  with  the  year  immediately  preceding  or 
following  it  show  very  detinite  results.  But  when  we  (compare  ]>hotographs  of  Tolstoi, 
or  Ueef,  for  exam|>le,  for  181)(5  or  1897  with  photograidis  of  the  same  rookeries  for  1892, 
the  evidence  of  decline  is  nuirked  nnd  unmistakable.  In  Appendix  111  will  be  found 
examples  of  these  and  similar  photographs,  to  which  reference  should  be  made. 

PHOTOOUAPHS   UETWEEN   SUCCESSIVE   SEASONS   INAI)E<iUATE. 

That  a  comparison  of  photographs  for  two  successive  seasons  should  not  show 
detinite  results  is  not  strange,  considering  the  shifting  aiul  changing  character  of  the 
rookery  population  and  the  broken  nature  of  the  ground  the  seals  occupy.  liy  way 
of  illustration,  the  estimated  decline  between  the  season  of  1890  and  1897  was  in  the 
neighborhood  of  15  per  cent  of  the  breeding  herd.  This  would  mean  the  absence  of 
20,(KM>  animals.  Hut  as  only  half  of  the  cows  are  ever  present  at  one  time  even  at  the 
maximum  height  of  the  season,  the  actual  absence  of  seals  involved  could  not  exceed 
19,(M)0.  There  are  more  than  8  miles  of  rocky  and  broken  shore  line  occupied  by  the 
breeding  seals  throughout  which  this  loss  must  be  distributed.  That  it  should  not  be 
perceptible  to  the  eye  at  any  one  point  or  be  capable  of  ineasureinent  in  a  photograph 
is  but  natural. 

THKIU  VALUE  dOVERINit   hONCr  PERIODS. 

But  while  it  is  in  general  true  that  the  photographs  of  one  s(;ason  compared  with 
those  of  the  next  do  not  show  detinite  results,  we  must  make  one  exception.  A 
comparis(m  of  the  series  of  photographs  for  1894  with  those  for  1895,  wherever  the 
conditions  are  favorable  for  showing  anything,  show  a  marked  diminution  in  the 
latter  year.    In  Appendix  ill  some  examples  of  these  photographs  will  be  found. 


106 


THIC    FUR    SKALS    OF    THK    PRIHII^OF    ISLANDS. 


It  is  evident  that  between  tiiese  two  seasons  the  deerease,  in  the  herd  M'as  more 
stronj^ly  iiiark(Ml  than  Itetween  any  other  two  seasons.  The  reason  lor  tliis  is  of 
course  plain  and  will  be  referred  to  Ur^ain  in  its  api)roi)riate  connection,  lu  a  word, 
the  resumption  of  pe!aj;ic  sealing  in  i8!»4,  nearly  (hmbliu;;  as  it  did  the  draft  of  the 
preceding  year  on  the  herd,  naturally  showed  itself  very  strongly  on  the  rookeries 
in  IHUf). 

PHOrocillAl'IlS   OF   AHANIXiNKl)   TKKKMTdRY. 

There  is  one  way  in  which  the  photograi)hs  of  successive  seasons  siiow  delinite 
results,  and  this  is  in  the  recording  of  the  absolute  abandohineut  of  breeding  gnmnd. 
Thus  on  the  Hat  at  the  head  of  the  "slide"'  on  Ardiguen  rookery  tlierc  were  7<S  cows 
iu  the  season  of  is'.Hi  and  none  whatever  in  1897.  This  fact  is  cleaily  recorded  in  the 
photographs  of  the  two  seasons.  Photographs  of  the  large  breeding  masses  on  Jteef 
rookery,  Tolstoi,  and  V'ostochni,  which  are  calculated  to  show  most  plainly  the  effects 
of  slirinkage,  give  dear  evidence  of  the  fact  even  between  t.vo  successive  seasons. 
This  evidence  might  not,  however,  in  view  of  the  daily  Huctuations  iu  rookery  popula- 
tion, be  so  clear  if  it  were  not  corroborated  l>y  more  deliuite  proof. 

THEIR    LIMITATIONS. 

There  are,  on  the  whole,  many  reasons  why  photogra)>hs  are  at  besi  unsatisfac^tory 
guides  to  the  actual  condition  of  the  rookeries  from  year  to  year.  In  the  tirst  ])laee.  it 
is  (litlicult  to  take  them  on  exactly  the  same  dates  on  account  of  adverse  weather 
conditions,  and  to  be  of  value  for  comparison  between  two  successive  seasons  they 
should  be  .so  taken.  Afet.in,  the  peri(td  during  which  photographs  of  any  value  can  be 
taken  is  short.  It  falls  within  a  few  days  before  or  after  the  15th  of  'Inly,  which  was 
found  iu  the  season  of  1897  to  be  the  nuixinuim  date  of  rookery  ])opulation.  but 
between  this  maximum  aud  the  population  of  the  8th  of  July  there  had  been  an 
increase  of  '20  \)ei  cent,  while  on  the  other  hand  from  the  maximum  of  the  l-'Oth  of  the 
same  mouth  fhere  was  a  decline  iu  population  of  38  per  cent. 

THEIR   RELATION   TO  THE   DAILY    COUNTS. 

To  take  a  concrete  example:  The  population  of  the  A mphil heater  of  Kitovi,  as 
counted  at  its  maximum  on  July  l.").  showed  703  breeding  cows  present.  On  the  Iftli 
its  population  was  .mG,  a  difference  between  the  two  days  of  li((  jier  cent.  IMiotograidis 
for  these  two  days  of  this  rookery  in  the  breeding  season  of  1897  would  have  indicated 
29  i)er  cent  of  dill'erence,  if  they  indicated  anything.  Suppose  similar  conditi(ms  for 
the  year  189(5.  and  that  a  photograph  taken  on  the  I4th  of  .Inly  in  one  year  is  to  be 
com|)aied  with  one  taken  on  the  same  date  of  the  next,  or  vice  versa.  Su« ''  a  com- 
parison would  clearly  be  misleading.  The  result  would  be  more  stiiking  if  the 
eom})arison  was  made  between  a  photograph  in  one  seascni  for  tiie  l.'itli  and  one  in 
another  season  for  the  liOth.  If  we  continue  the  comparison  we  tind  tlnit  by  the  31st 
of  July  our  population  of  breeding  cows  luis  deemed  4(>  i)er  cent  from  its  nmximum. 

Here,  however,  comes  in  another  element  of  coidiision  in  the  use  of  photographs. 
The  pups  have  b.'cn  growing  in  the  meantime  and  are  becoming  more  ami  more 
consjticuous.  They  are  always  at  least  twi"e  as  numerous  as  the  cows,  am)  in  a 
distance  photograpli  they  can  Jiot  be  readily  distin^uishetl  fnun  their  mothers.  It 
therefore  happens  that  a  photograph  taken  on  tin   .'Mst  of  .liily  for  the  Amphith<!ater 


ssmmmmm 


EVIDENCES    OF    OECLINE. 


107 


ir 


of  Kitovi,  \vli»n  only  about  half  as  iiiaiiy  tows  were  picNotit,  sliows  to  tlie  casual 
observer  vastly  more  aninuils  than  one  taken  ou  the  l."»th.  Tliis  ('oudirion  of  th'n;iM 
continues  throu^ho\it  the  remainder  of  tiic  summer,  the  eows  ImeoMiiuf;  more  sciuce 
and  the  itups  more  (■on8i)icuous. 

THE  TBIE  VALUE  OF  r"B<»T(WRAPns. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  discussion  to  Udittle  the  value  of  idiotojrniplis. 
Tliey  have  their  phme  uud  importance,  but  it  is  not  tiieir  function  to  ni-asure  the 
decline  which  the  fur  seal  iierd  is  at  i>resent  sutterinj;-.  or  has  suti«rwd  in  the  past  from 
year  to  year.  By  a  comparison  of  pliotograplis  taken  .at  widi  I  >litferent  dates,  some 
of  them  in  .luly,  others  in  Aiijjfust,  i'rofessor  Thompson,  in  his  rcfMut  for  IS'.Mi,  soufiiit 
to  prove  that  no  decline  iiad  occurred  in  tlie  herd  between  Mic  -^Hiasons  (»f  18iM»  and 
lHUr».  In  view  of  tiiis  fact  it  becomes  necessary  tor  us  to  detine  the  importance  and 
lindtations  of  ]iliotojj;raph8  as  a  measure  of  decline  in  rookery  hte. 

Photo>{rai)lis.  in  our  Judfiinent.  are  of  value  only  as  showing  the  larjie  results  or 
chanties  wiucli  come  throiit;!)  h)ntJ  jieriods  of  time.  Tlie  photofjraplis  of  the  rookeries 
of  the  Pribilof  lslan<ls  show  us  plaiidy  that  its  herd  of  .seals  has  suHered  a  iieavy 
diminution  since  18!)2.  Those  for  the  years'  i,S(»^  and  18M.")  show  clearly  the  disastrous 
results  of  the  resumption  of  pelajjic  stealing  under  the  regulaticuis  (»f  the  Paris  award. 
I5etwecn  the  .seasons  of  189(!  ami  18!t7  photographs  can  only  be  trusted  to  record 
change  where  breeding  ground  has  been  actually  abaiuloned.  Of  the  magnitude  of 
the  decrease  which  the  herd  hiis  suffered  in  the  past  five  years  photographs  afford 
abundant  evidence,  but  they  giv<r  no  measure  either  of  the  total  decrease  nor  of  its 
rate  from  year  to  year.  Finally,  for  comparison  only  photographs  taken  at  middle  of 
.luiy  can  be  used. 

TOWNSEND's   CltOSSKS. 

One  of  the  most  iletinite  evidences  of  decline  is  to  be  found  in  the  shrinkage  of 
certain  large  breeding  masses  on  such  rookeries  as  Tolstoi. /apadni,  and  \ostochni. 
Tliis  is  most  plainly  shown  in  the  relation  of  the  breeiling  masses  to  certain  crosses 
which  Mr.  Townsend.  in  18!>r>.  painted  to  mark  their  outward  extension.  During 
tlie  season  of  ISIM}  these  crosses  were  in  no  case  reached  at  tln^  corresponding  period. 
In  some  cases  the  breeding  masses  loll  away  from  them  from  .">()  to  HM(  feet.  In  181)7 
tiie  shrinkags  was  measured  by  yards  where  in  18!M)  it  was  measured  by  feet. 

SHIlINKACiK  (IF    nUEKI)IN(t   AKEA. 

Another  positive  evidence  of  decrease  is  to  be  found  in  the  disapjiearame  of 
'Certain  small  patches  of  breeding  .seals  noted  and  marked  on  the  rookery  niajis  of 
1895,  but  which  were  not  to  be  found  in  18!t(!.  One  of  these  groups  of  harems  was  at 
t!ie  southern  end  of  Vostoclini.  Two  others  were  at  the  extremities  of  the  breeding 
ground,  known  as  /apadni  lU'el. 

TOI.STdl    MAN!)   FLAT,    ARDIUUKN,    ETC. 

In  18!>7  this  abandonmeui  of  li  ceding  tenit^)ry  was  still  more  noticeable  as  a 
result  of  the  minute  iusiH^ction  of  the  two  sea.sons.  On  the  sand  flat  of  Tolstoi  but  a 
small  fraction  of  the  area  occapifu  m  18!M»  was  covered  this  year,  and  practi(rally  no 
seals  were  on  the  slopes  behind.  At  the  head  of  the  "slide"  on  .\rdiguen  last  year 
were  three  harems,  aggregating  78  cows,  as  seen  on  the  14th  of  .Inly.  Making  the 
necessary  aUowance  for  absentees,  there  must  have  been  an  actual   total  of  at  least 


108 


THE    PUR    SEALS   OF   THE    PRIHU.OF    ISLANDS. 


150.    This  year  not  a  single  cow  located  permanently  on  this  territory,  and  the  thrci' 
bulls,  corresponding  to  the  harems  of  last  year,  renntined  idle  tliroiigliout  the  season. 

Another  jjoint  \vh(;re  tlie  shrinkage  was  ]>iainly  nniiked  was  at  a  jtroniinent 
observation  point  known  as  "Old  John's  liock,"  about  which  during  the  summer  of 
l.SJMi  a  large  harem  clustered;  the  ground  was  fully  occupied  between  it  and  the  water. 
This  year  tlie  breeding  seals  did  not  reach  within  100  feet  of  luis  rock  at  any  time 
during  the  season.  Again  the  absence  of  breeding  sesilis  imm  tlu^  ruiiways  a!ul  breaks 
in  the  dill's  of  Lukanin  rookery,  another  observatittu  point  freiiuentrd  during  both 
seasons,  was  very  marked. 

Similar  examples  might  be  cited  from  all  the  ro  )keries  closel.N  observed.  Such 
aban<lonment  of  rook<  ry  ground  can  hav»'  but  out'  explanation,  namely,  decrease 
in  the  breeding  herd. 

THE  DECllKASE   IN   IIEAI)   PUPS. 

A  striking,  though  indire(!t,  evidence  of  decline  in  the  breeding  herd  is  brought 
out  by  the  marked  decrease  in  the  nuu-tality  among  nursing  pups  in  the  breeding 
season.  On  all  the  massed  rookery  portions  the  population  of  breeding  seals  was 
imi.'ii  sparcer  during  the  season  of  1897.  On  the  sand  Hat  of  Tolstoi  and  in  the 
gullies  of  Zapadni  only  a  small  portion  of  the  space  (tccupied  in  1S!M»  was  ()ccui)ied 
in  ls97.    We  are  not,  therefore,  surjjrised  to  find  the  following  contrast: 

Dead  pup»,  .iiiyiist  10. 


Kookerv. 


Tolatoi  Siinil  Flat  iiiiil  ii<l,iiii'<'nt  lii'aoli 
Zupiiilni  L)llllie^  ami  ailjacini  hpaclicii 

(ilirllUtL'll 

Reef 


1. 4a.-. 
i,:tu 

u.io 

1K!)7. 

.'»9:( 

These  counts  were  made  where  the  death  rate  had  to  do  directly  with  the 
crowding  of  the  seals  on  certain  defective  breeding  spaces. 

THE  INCUIUSEI)   MORTALITY  AMONO   COWS. 

In  this  connection  may  becited  onefurther  evidence  of  decline.  On  IJeef  rookery, 
where  25  cows  were  found  dead  in  l.SS)6,  42  were  found  in  1897.  The  diminished  .supply 
of  <-ow8  led  to  tiercer  struggles  for  their  possession  ami  con.se(piently  the  death  of  a 
greater  number.  The  deaths  of  cows  on  the  breeding  grounds  are  due  chietly,  if  not 
wholly,  to  the  nmgh  treatment  by  the  bulls. 

THE   DIMINIsnKl)   (iTOTA. 

Hut  the  moat  clear  and  positive  evidence  of  decline  is  fi»untl  in  the  reduction  of 
the  ({uota  of  killable  seals.  Tlie  sexes  are  ecjual  at  birth.  They  nui.st  b«' subject  to 
like  natural  enemies  and  hardship.  Whatever  tends  to  diminish  the  bachelor  herd 
nnist  in  like  measure  alVect  the  number  of  .!  year-tdd  cows  which  each  year  take  their 
jtlaces  as  bleeders  on  the  rookeries. 

For  twenty  years  after  the  islands  came  into  the  i)ossession  of  the  United  States 
it  was  possible  to  take  each  year  a  <piota  of  approximately  100,000  young  males. 
During  at  least  thirteen  years  of  this  period  this  (|u<tta  ccnild  be  obtained  easily  and 
without  exhausting  the  hauling  grounds.  This  year  it  was  more  dilliiMilt  to  get  a 
quota  of  ^0,tM>0  skins  than  it  was  in  IHSttto  getoneof  100,(I(M>-    Tlie  inference  is  obvious. 


ACTUAL   COLNTS   OF   PUPJS. 


10I> 


Till';  DKCl.INK  I5KTWKKN  ISiKi  AM>  1M!»7. 

As  ii  result  of  tlii'  investijjiition.s  of  the  past  two  seasons  we  arc  able  uow  h»  sub 
iiiit  <U;liiiit('  aii<i  liiial  pniot'  not  only  of  tbo  fact  of  decline,  but  also  an  apinoxiniately 
accurato  nioasuie  of  its  rate. 

CONrPAKATIVK  COUNTS,  JSiW-'.lT. 

Diirinfj  the  season  of  I.S!((5a  very  accurate  estimate  of  iliti  total  number  of  liarems 
on  the  two  islands  was  made.  On  certain  rookeries  and  parts  of  rookeries  careful 
counts  of  the  individual  cows  present  were  made  at  the  height  of  the  season  and  on 
approximately  the  same  dates  each  year.  Afterwards  a  thorou{j;h  enunu>ration  of  the 
live  and  dead  pups  on  the  same  breeding  f^rounds  was  made.  We  have  had  <)(;casion 
to  criticise  and  revi.se  our  detailed  census  of  18i>0,  but  tliis  revision  does  not  affect  the 
actual  (iounts  for  that  year,  whicii  we  have  no  occasion  to  alter. 

Tiiese  comparative  counts  for  the  two  seasons  are  as  follows: ' 

.IfliKit  iimnls,  ISOH-97. 


KiMikrrv. 


■# 


s 


Harvinii. 

IH'.lli.  IH 


Kitiivi 182  I 

I.auniiii 120 

Tnlsldi  (clills) 10« 

/aiiaiini   Uwt 17« 

(■(>liiv:iiii  ((litis; 86 

l.itllc  Ea»t» <'i) 

AriU^iuMi 27 


ClIWB. 

I'u 

IH. 

117. 

IH'.lli. 

18!)7. 

IKDO. 

Irti7, 

179 

;i,  152 

2,  436 

0,049 

5,  289 

115 

1,474 

l,:il» 

2,  484 

2,  .59K 

»H 

1.498 

1 ,  28l> 

2,  M4 

(«» 

114 

2,  25li 

l,04(t 

;l,  802 

3,  (Ml 

til 

I,2til) 

747 

2,  40fi 

2,  200 

;i.l 

((') 

4117 

1,3,50 

1.  lUd 

3:1 

551) 

470 

(M 

730 

(iXutroiiiiti'd. 

6<'otint  of  iHltft  r('.it'(((>il  ]i«  ohviduwly  inmrriTt. 


'TIii'Ht^  f1i:;iir-HM  itrn  th«'  joint  wnik  of  Mr.  (Mark,  uf  llit*  Atiinrit-an  i-omiiiUaion,  iiiiil  Mr.  Macoiin.  of  tli(^  HritiHl) 
<!niniiiis?4ii>n.  Th«\  wcm- !U'('«|ilcit  bv  IVoiesnor  ThontpHon,  tlioM;;li  iiiiuli*  in  lii^  aliHt'iu-c,  11s  li«>  iliil  imi  ariivi^  in  liiiii'  to 
wiliii-srt  till' wot  k.  .M'ttT  t  lit*  <li|)iiriiin>  of  .Mr.  Macoiin  anil  oiirsilvi'H  trom  tht'  iHland.s  Proft-HHor  TliotniiHuii,  iisnisli'il  Itv 
Mr.  I.ui-a:4.  nii<l<Ttiiok  a  rcrniiiit  of  tlu«  livi-  pnpH.  Mr.  Lucans  action  in  tlir  nnittrr  wuh  onr  pun'ly  nf  ctmrtUHy,  no 
rt'^pGnsihilit y  forthr  work  ot'i-ininn'ration  having  )>ecn  ar^sij^ncil  U*  liitn  by  tbr  rnnuni.'^.sjont'r  in  charu*'. 

In  tin'  rcrniint  nn  Kito\  i  rookrry  rrotcHmir  Tbonipsfin  fiiiunl  'i.TiIU  live  piip.s  :  Mr .  LncaM.  5,*)77.  In  a  Minglo  portion, 
uf  thi'  rnnki-ry  Mr.  l.traH  foiiml  l.ltlH  pups,  whrrcaH  rrnfi-sHor  ThonipHoii  luoml  only  1,217.  No  t-tfort  waH  niailit  by 
ri'ciHiutin;;  or  otIM•r\^  ist-  to  nunoxu  ilisrrcpanrieH.  Tin-  mean  of  tlii'  two  rtnihtM,  or  r».r)5r»,  was  asMuint>tl  as  tlio  tot  a'  'lo 
tliis  I  lit-  ib-ail  )Mips  liriii^  i(«)<b'(l,  a  total  of  r>.70u  pups  fur  tlii-^  lookcry  wii^  funnd  a.s  a;;ainst.'>,281(  iM'ijfinally  >  onnttd. 

Aftcruanl'*  a  urinihi  ot  Zap;oI:'i  Iti-t'f  wjim  mail*'.  Here,  following  tlir  .saint'  niethoil.>*.  n  total  of  L'.780  pup.s  wuh 
lonnd  a',  against  tlir  total  of  :i.(i4l  o   the  ori<;it)         Hint.     N'o  furtln-r  reconntH  were  uttnnipted. 

Trofen.sor  ThoinpNon  lias  Heen  tit  tu  -  itiitf*  tli»  results  of  bin  reiuunt  on  Kito\  i  riMikery  loi  the  oitn  iai  one, 
ro.je^tinf^  art  iiniatintai-tory  bis  rceoiint  id'  /.apailnt  l{iMt  .V  4-aniparim>u  of  tbe  two  eotinti*  ■4bo\v  fdainly  wby.  Ihul 
1'rofi'H.sor 'riionipKon  subr>iitiited  liotb  ronnts.  or  li>  .  u-i  ^m  \im\  hr  (ohiplvteii  I  lie  recount  on  lie  reni'iininir  ro<rkeri(-s  and 
Ui^etl  tin-  loiiipb-ted  lesnlt.H.  bi.s  action  noiitd  have  been  InHK  opeM     >  erHlcliini 

Tlif  rcMiills  ut   the  rerounia  are  in  no  senHc  bindinj^  n.  '<•    Anierlt  an  comniiN-iinn.     ilM'.\  bear  on  tlieir  fait- the 

evidence  of  tlnii  faidtx  character,  which   in  strengthened  by  t  lie  adnn^Hinii  that  uiie  n     leant   if*  in  errur.     It  may  bu  uaiil 
tnat  Mr.  Maconu  does  not  share  with  his  col|ea;jue  the  faitli  which  is  p   i<  ed  in  the  rt^coimt. 

We  nia>  say  that  in  lliese  i-eiounl.s  no  pHMantboi  wan  laknn  which  \mm  omiltisl  in  the  orJuiiiul  conni.  Tie 
condiliooHtd'  the  count  by  ('lark  and  M  actum  were  more  tavtnuble.  The  piipn  weru  ton  duvi*  you  tiger,  were  Icnh  uclive,  aiol 
;veiv  U'll  uoinu  intitthe  water.  The  count  was  made  in  a  continnoiii  Hertsion  of  tixo  bourn,  a  iM-reas  in  the  rucuunt  Hit! 
rookcr>  Was  abandoneil  for  a  period  at  iionii,  ;:ivin^  room  for  the  poHsibility  t»f  f«hii'  \>a  among  tin*  pups. 

The  gra*  e  ttbje^iion  lo  tlm  rrcmints,  howevi^i.  restft  in  the  fact  that  neith*  r  Mr.  I,mi  n-  uor  Prolu««or  TlionipHon  had 
liati  an\  lonHiderable  evpern-nce  in  the  work  of  counting.  On  the  other  hand  M*  is.  t 'hn  k  and  Macon  n  niuilt*  their  loiinl 
11)1  Kit<nl  rookery  altn  having  counted  ID.UOO  1,,-e  pups  in  1807  ami  nearly  l!0,tHXi  in  IHOn.  tu  sax  nolhingtif  '.>7,0(iU  dead 
nne.s  and  ^rrat  nnmliers  ot  rows  ami  harems. 

There  in  no  xvork  in  xvhich  experirnce  anti  adaptability  count  for  more  than  in  ibe  <  "iintlug  of  tln^  live  pups.  The 
luiuinal  <  <inntH    then' Ion',  ntantl  to  the  r<-t'tiiinta  aa  the  work  id'expertH  to  thai  ot  amai*  '«  in  xx  jth  groat  reluctance  that 

we  relet  lo  thi--  mailer  antI  xvn  xvniiJd  not  mentiiui  it  were  It    nol    that   I'rofessor   '  <  Uas  umciI  it  to  cast  di.seretlit  on 

ligure.s  undoubtetlly  accurate  ami  tru.Hixxorthy.     Kvtui  with  bis  Hubslitution  ;ber<  K-it  by  his  oxvn  accepted  llgures  ji 

poaitixi  i|i<  line  of  II.  I  per  cent,      l  he  dilb'tent  c  IhM  ween  tliia  ami  12  p»r  cent  is  .d'  1.     i<  ,il  iiu|iorlanc<  i-xcept  that  the  tiHcof 
llie  (liscn-pHut  tigui'cs  Horvea  ueeitlcasly  ty  weakeii  the  aj^imrent  force «f  evidence  druwn  from  actual  enuuicratiuua. 


110  THE    FUK    SEALS   UK    THE    I'UIIULOF    ISLANDS. 

SUMMABT   OK  PEECENTACxES. 
Fruin  thuse  tigiires  we  luuy  draw  tlie  tolluwing  siiimnary  of  periteiitages: 
I'ervi-ntaijfs  of  dvoline  an  thoim  hy  coiihIk. 


~ 

('omit  (if — 

IHHli. 

nun 

111,  IIM 
18, '.Ml 

I8«7. 

ti:i:i 
7,  ;)(i7 
i4,;iiH 

I'lToeiit- 

a^t^  of 
ilern'ftHe. 

».5 
'J8  34 

CUWH 

I'uim 

11.8      ! 

The  i°08u1t.s  in  this  limited  count  of  ii  ireiiis  are  not  so  striking  as  in  tite  completed 
count  of  harems  for  each  season  on  all  the  rookeries.  These  were  4,9.{li  in  l.SJ>6  and 
4,418  in  1897,  a  decrease  of  10.41  per  cent. 

DECREASE  IN   THE   AVEISAOE  SIZE   UK   IIAUEMS. 

In  connecti(ni  with  this  marked  decline  in  the  number  of  breeding  families  it  may 
be  noted  that  on  Kitovi  rookery,  which  we  have  taken  as  typical  of  rookery  conditions 
in  general,  there  is  also  a  marked  decrease  in  the  size  of  the  individual  harem.  In 
18U(»  the  ai)parent  sizeof  harem,  as  shown  by  a  countof  cows,  was  17.3;  in  1807  it  was 
13.6,  a  decrease  of  L'l  per  cent.  As  this  rookery  was  counted  on  exactly  the  same  date 
and  under  like  conditions  these  tigures  may  properly  be  compared  and  are  significant. 


J 


THE    ('(MNT   OK   COWS. 

The  count  of  cows,  which  shows  a  de«;rea8e  of  28..i4  per  cent,  is  less  certain  but 
is  still  significant.  Owing  to  their  constant  coming  and  going,  the  number  of  females 
on  the  rookeries  in  the  lu'ight  of  the  season  varies  greatly  from  day  to  day.  This  will 
be  clearly  .seen  by  reference  to  the  daily  counts  of  cows  on  Lukanin  and  Kitovi  rookeries 
during  the  season  of  1897,  which  will  be  found  in  .Vppeudix  1.  The  countof  cows 
and  jMips.  as  recorded  above  in  the  ease  of  Zapatlni  lieef  and  Polovina  dirt's,  where  the 
latter  were  three  times  as  numerous  as  the  cows,  furnishes  a  good  illustration.  At 
the  same  time,  while  the  decrease  shown  by  the  comparative  counts  of  cows  can  not  be 
taken  at  its  full  value,  the  fact  of  large  decline  thus  shown  can  not  be  ignore«l. 

THE   COINT   (iK    I'l  I'S    AN    ABSOLITK   MEASUUE. 

The  final  and  absolute  measure  of  decline,  however,  is  to  be  fimnd  in  tlie  counts 
of  pui»s.  As  we  have  seen,  the  number  of  harems  fluctuates.  The  cows  come  and  go, 
and  throughout  the  breeding  season  the  ro(tkeries  are  undergoiug  constant  chatige. 
With  the  pups  this  is  not  the  (!aa«'.  They  are  fixed  upon  the  rookery  to  wbi(;h  they 
belong  at  least  for  the  first  six  weeks  of  their  lives.  A  count  of  these  animals,  living 
and  dead,  is  an  exact  index  t(»  the  number  of  lireedingcows  which  have  during  the 
season  api)eared  upon  the  breeding  ground  in  <iuestion. 


THE    QUOTA    OK   KILLAHLK    BACHELORS. 


Ill 


I 


LAliOON   UOOKERV. 

Kur  tlu!  wholi'.  luiiiihui-  of  pupscoiiiitcHl,  and  the  iir«a  covered  is  varied  eiion|rii  to 
be  typical,  we  liiid  that  tiiere  has  been  a  decrease  of  1 1.8  per  cent.  By  reference  to  tlit^ 
coiiiit  on  Lanooii  ntokery,  however,it  w:!!  be  seen  that  instead  of  a  decrease  since  IS'.Ni 
there  has  bee.'i  an  increase  of  i{  per  (!ent.  This  increase  is  apparent  rattier  than  real 
for  both  the  niunbcr  of  cows  and  the  number  of  harems  present  on  this  rookery  in 
th"  height  of  the  season  liad  decreased.  As  a  matter  of  fact  we  know  that  tlie 
count  of  La{foon  rookery  for  18!Mi  was  much  less  accurate  than  that  tor  1H!>7  because 
in  the  latter  year  it  was  made  under  more  iulvantageous  coiulitions.  We  are  convinced, 
therefore,  that  the  count  of  ISKC)  is  somewhat  in  error. 

If  we  drop  Lagoon  rookery  from  the  calcuhitiou  the  percentaije  of  decrease,  as 
siiown  by  our  count  of  pups,  rises  practi<!ally  to  15  per  cent.  We  do  not  insist  upon 
this,  and  are  willing  to  abide  by  the  ti{;;ure  of  lii  per  cent  which  the  completed  count 
shows.  The  diflerence  between  lli  i)er  cent  and  lo  per  cent  is  imnuiterial.  The  fact 
remains  that  by  the  count  of  pups,  which  is  the  surest  basis  of  kiu)wledge  as  to  the 
condition  of  the  herd,  the  birthrate,  and  consefjuently  the  herd  of  breeding  females, 
has  sutlered  since  the  season  of  1S9(5  a  decrease  which  can  not  be  less  than  Ili  per 
cent,  and  whicli  we  have  good  reason  to  believe  is  as  high  as  1-")  per  cent. 

THE  (^lOTAS  OF  181W  AXI»  1«97. 

There  remains  one  further  element  of  comparison  between  the  seasons  of  1896 
and  1897  to  complete  the  proof  of  the  decline  in  the  fur-seal  herd.  This  is  the  com- 
parison of  the  (piotus  of  the  two  years. 

I  UK  (;l()TA  OF  18»t>  FIXKK. 

• 

In  189(i  .{((((MtO  skins  were  obtained,  the  quota  being  lixed  at  that  tigure.  It  is 
probable  that  a  few  thousand  more  killable  seals  could  have  been  taken  had  the  quota 
been  an  indetinite  (»ne.  On  the  other  hand,  however,  a  number  of  2  year-old  seals 
were  taken,  which  to  a  certain  extent  anticipated  the  <|Uota  of  1897.  To  the  best  of 
our  knowledge  these  two  elements  in  the  (piota  of  189(i  balance  one  another,  and  we 
nniy  consider  its  total  as  fairly  representative  of  the  hauling  grounds  of  that  year. 

IIIK  ylOTA  (»l'  1S!I7  INDEKIMTi;. 

In  1897  the  quota  was  left  without  definite  limit  to  secure  the  utmost  product  (»f 
the  herd,  tiie  rookeries  being  already  grossly  overstocked  with  male  life  so  far  as  the 
need  for  breeding  purposes  was  concerned.  The  driving  was  therefore  <lone  more 
thoroughly  and  continued  for  a  longer  period,  extending  luitil  the  10th  of  August, 
whereas  in  1896  it  was  terminated  on  the  27th  of  .luly.  To  make  the  comlitions  sur- 
lounding  the  (piota  of  189(!  and  1897  clear,  we  may  here  insert  the  statistii^s  regarding 
the  killings  of  the  two  seasons. 


imw 


112 


THK    FUK    HEALS   OF   THE    PRIUILOF   ISLANDS. 


KilUnijH  for  the  ijuota,  IS'JG, 
ST.  TAirr-  ISLAXK. 


llaiiliiii:  ){>'<'<»iil- 


Diite. 


Do June 24. 

Koef Juiifl27. 

Kngllsh  Hay.  Miilillc  Hill,  ToUtoi JiiiiuZO 

Nurtlieaxt  I'uiiit July  2  .. 

1)1) July  It.. 

Zoltni.  I/ukaniii July  S.. 

/.aiiwiiii riily  7  .. 

I'oluviiia luly  8.. 

licef,  Zoltoi Inly  10. 

NortheaHt  Point July  i:i . 

Do July  U. 

Keef,  Zoltoi J»ly  15  . 

TolBtoi,  Middle  Hill,  Engli«li  llav July  16  . 

Northeast  Point July  21. 

Do July  22. 

I'olovlua Inly  2:i . 

Luknnin,  Kitovi,  Zoltoi,  Ueef lulv  26 . 

Middle  Uill,  TolHtol,  Lukiiuiu July  27  . 


I  AniniiilH  I  Porrenl   I 
j    killed.    af;<' killed. 


l>'(HKlHkinB Antuinn  1805.   ... 

1)0 Spring 

Zoltoi June  19 

Wati'iMuen June  2U 

NortlieuHt  Point ■  Juna2:i 


Total 23,8i: 


l)2ft 

384 

283 

2 

1,414 

1.  4(18 

2,076 

1,3118 

1,396 

1. 1011 

1.535 

784 

961 

1.271 

1,045 

t,  169 

849 

0.44 

1, 1,38 

.46 

8(18 

.35 

1,047 

!>85 

.« 

1.630 

.42 

021 

.43 

23. 81'.' 

ST.  (iEOlidK  ISLAND. 


HauliuK  ground. 


Date. 


j  AuiuialH    PoD'cnt- 
I    killed.    ageklUod. 


Food  HkiuH Spring-Autumn  . 

"  "  July  10 


EnHt  rookery 

Zapadni  

Kortli  and  Staraya  Artel 

East 

Zapadni 

North  and  Staraya  Artel 

Eant  and  Little  Kaat 

Zajiadui J  uly  9 

North  and  Staraya  Artel July  13 

Eawt July  21 

North  and  Staraya  Artel July  24 


July  24  . 
Julv  26  . 
July  29  . 
J  uly  2.. 
July  6 . . 
Julv  - 


327 
570 
.168 
9011 
804 
333 
700 
614 
2*'l 
4H7 
221 
308 


0.32 
.76 
.72 
.62 
.68 
.!>6 
.57 
.40 
.46 
.27 
.17 


Total  , 


6,158 


J 


KILLINGS    FOK   (/lO'lA    OK    1897. 

KilliiiyHfiir  tli,'  iiuula,  18!>7. 
ST.  I'AII,, 


118 


l''ni)(l  Hkinx 

K.'ef 

/iipiiiliii 

Ztilliii.Ui-vf,  1111(1  Liikaiiin... 
TolBtoi,  .Midill.i  Hill.  Kiiglinli 
NortlioiiBl  IViiit 

Do ;. 

Liikiiiiin 

Ki'ef  anil  Ziiltui 

TdlsKii,  Midfllr  Hill,  Eiiglisli 

NortlieuHt  I'ciiiit 

I'liliivliia 

KiT»' 1111(1  Ldkaniu 

NorlliciiMt  I'oiiil 

Ziipudiii "  ' 

Middle  Hill  niid  Kiii;ligli  iln'v 
I'likaiiin,  ZiilKd.  niid  Kopf    ' 

Nurtlii)a.'<t  Tdiiif, 

I'oldviiia _\ 

Liikaiiiii  and  liccf. 

/Canadni 

Tiilstdi  and  M iddlo  II ill . . '.  " 
^fortlll■ant  roinl... 

i)d ;;■■■ 

Pidoviiia ' 

Kecf  and  l.iikaniii.... 

Middle  Hill  and  Eiinlisli  jiav 
Kei'f 


Aiitiiinn  and  8|irinK. 

Jnnc  15 

•lune  \6 


Uav. 


llav 


Total 


.Iund2.1. 
•)ini«20. 

•lllllB.'lU. 

■lulyl  .. 

.liilVJ.. 

July  :>  . . 

Jiilvfl  .. 
,  JulV  «  . . 

July  9  .. 

July  12  . 

July  14., 
;  July  18. 
I  July  17    . 

July  10  .. 

July  22  . . 

July  23  . . 

July  24  .. 

July  20  .. 
,  July  27  .. 
I  July  29  . . 
1  July  DO  .. 
;  July  31.. 

I    AllfrUHt   1 

'  AUKiist  5 
AugiiHt  7 


NuniliPi 
killiMl. 


1,701 
492 
310 
708 

1,098 
790 

7o;i 

208 

7o:i 
1,2311 
1, 7i:i 

4.'>8 

WI4 
1.240 

88G 

297 

988 
1.322 

274 

520 

514 

199 

2U8 

278 

108 

418 

1(11 

172 

18,520    { 


Percent- 1 
kiiled. 


0. 85 

.67 

.48 

.04 

..57 

.58 

..53 

.83 

.87 

.  115 

.88 

..50 

.58 

.  .53 

.88 

.39 

.34 

.24 

.2S 

.27 

.20 

.18 

.21) 

.18 

.19     ; 

.15 

.20 


ST.  (iKORGK. 


•I 


m 
.1 


naiilint  grnund. 


Food  akiofi  to  date 

Kant ".'.'""' 

Food  skiuH 

Xapadiii 

Food  Hkins 

Staiaya  A rtcl " ' 

Food  skins 

Ba»t "■■■' 

Food  Mkiiitt 

Nortliand  .Staraya  .Ariel 

East 

Food  skin.s 

Zapad  III ' 

Fast,  Noitli,  and  Stai'aviiA  rtel  '. ' 

Food  skins " 

East 

North  and  Staravii  .Vitel 

Food  skins ' 

East,  North,  and  Starava 
Food  skins 


Date. 


June  18 

June  19-24. 

June  25 

Julyl 

July  3 

Jiil'vS 

July? 

July  8-10  .. 

Jlllf  13 

Julv  18 

JlllVl? 

Inly  10 

. '111.7  22 

July  24-31  .. 
August  2  ... 
August  4  ... 
Au;{iist5-9 
August  111 .. 
Augnst  11  .. 


I 


Nuiiilier    ''ene''!- 

killed.        ,  '.'?«, 
I     killed. 


228 

1,50 

10 

140 

2 

70 

4 

227 

"'« 


0.38    < 
.16    i 


253 

209 

4 

104 

391 

10 

179 

1.53 

6 

.28 
.22 

13  ' 

.18 

.18 
.18 

207 
17 

.12 

2. 370 

15184- 


114 


THK    VVK   SEALS    OP   TIIK    PRIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


THK  t/COI'A  (»K  1«}>7  HAKDKR  TO  (ilCT. 

It  must  l»e  evident  From  a  study  <»1'  these  figures  that  the  quota  of  I89<»  was  in 
every  way  easier  to  procure  than  tliat  for  1897.  In  the  latter  year  tlie  driving  was 
continued  ten  diiys  longer  on  St.  Paul  Island  and  sixteen  days  longer  on  St.  (leorge. 
The  lowest  percentage  of  animals  killed  in  any  drive  on  St.  Paul  in  ISflfi  was  3.5;  in 
1H97  it  was  lowered  to  l.*>  per  cent.  On  St.  <  leorge  the  lowest  point  reached  in  180(5 
was  17  i)er  cent;  in  1897  it  was  12  per  cent.  The  redn<;tion  in  tlie  percentage  of  seals 
killed  marks  the  (iegree  of  exhaustion  of  the  hauling  grounds. 

TIIK  t^rOTA    A    nillKOT  MKA.SIRK  »H'   Till',    IIKKKDINO   IIKBD. 

This  (roniparison  of  the  bachelor  herd  of  189(>  and  1897  is  a  dire(;t  measure  of  the 
condition  of  the  breeding  herd  in  the  years  189.'i  and  1894  when  these  killable  seals 
were  born.  It  is  not  a  measure  of  the  condition  of  the  breeding  herd  of  189r)  and  1897. 
To  understand  why  the  loss  in  the  breeding  herd  for  the  season  of  1S94  as  compared 
with  that  for  1893  was  nearly  39  per  cent,  while  the  present  rate  of  decrease  is  but 
15  ])er  cent,  it  is  only  necessary  to  consider  that  in  1894  pelagic  sealing  was  resumed 
in  Itering  Sea  after  the  modus  vivendi  and  the  herd  that  year  suHeied  its  greatest  loss, 
amounting  to  09,(MK)  seals,  whereas  in  1893  its  loss  was  only  39,000.  This  fully  accounts 
for  the  great  ditterence  between  the  decrease  for  the  season  of  1897  in  the  fur-seal  herd 
as  measured  by  the  i»roduct  of  its  hauling  grounds  and  as  measured  by  its  birth  rate 
for  the  same  season.  The  pelagic  catith  which  affected  the  breeding  herd  between 
1890  and  1897  was  about  one-half  as  great  as  that  which  attected  the  breeding  herd 
between  1893  and  1894.  In  other  words,  the  pelagic  catch  of  1894  was  double  that 
of  18!»3,  while  the  catch  of  1897  was  about  one  half  that  of  1896.' 

TIIK  gl'OTA  (»l"  ISitT  AM>   TIIK  I'AKIS  RE(JILAT1()NS. 

J^ot  only  does  this  marked  decrease  in  the  quota  em])liasi/e  the  fact  of  decline  in 
the  herd,  but  it  tixes  more  clearly  than  ever  the  responsibility  upon  pelagic  sealing, 
and  forcibly  <!ondemns  the  regulations  of  the  Paris  Award,  in  the  opening  year  of  the 
operation  of  which  the  loss  which  it  indicates  was  sustained. 

THK  TOTAL   1»K(JLINK   IX   THE   llEKIt. 

In  this  comparison  of  the,  quota  of  killable  seals  with  the  breeding  nerd  of  the' 
year  in  which  its  individuals  were  born,  we  find  the  necessary  basis  for  an  estimate  of 
the  total  decline  which  the  herd  has  surtered.  The  killable  seals  found  in  1897  bear  a 
diiect relation  to  the  breeding  herd  of  1894.  In  like  nninner  the  quota  of  100,(K)0  skins 
taken  in  1880,  for  example,  bears  a  direct,  and  we  may  sup]H>se,  ]>roportionate  rela 
tion  to  the  breeding  herd  of  1897.  Tlie  breeding  herd  which  could  without  dittlcnlty 
furnish  100,000  killable  seals  in  1880  must  have  been  at  least  live  times  as  great  as  the 
herd  which  can  today  with  ditticulty  furnish  l.'0,000.  And  when  we  take  intoat!count 
the  increased  eftbrt  required  to  secure  the  latter  quota,  we  may  assume  that  the  total 
decline  in  the  herd  really  lies  between  four-flfths  and  five-sixths  of  its  nuiximiim  size. 

'This  I'lut  is  overlooked  by  I'lofessor  ThoinpHOU  when  lie  iiNBiTt.s  "tli.it  tliu  ratio  nf  tli«?  ciitcli 
(quota)  of  IHit"  to  that  of  ISlKi  is  not  a  fair  proportionate  inonsiire  of,  Init  is  largely  in  esceMS  of  the 
actual  (liiiiiiiiitioii  of  the  gi'iieral  herd."    (Hcport  of  lS!t7,  p.  11.) 


I 


I.Sl)<»  was  ill 
^  (Iriviiig  was 
1  St.  (leorge. 
Mi  was  ,15;  ill 
idled  in  18!)(J 
tagc  of  seals 


iasiire  of  tlie 
illable  seals 
iOO  and  1S97. 
us  compared 
urease  is  but 
vas  resumed 
:reatest  loss, 
lly  accounts 
iir-seal  herd 
's  birth  rate 
rd  between 
icding  herd 
ilouble  tiiat 


,'!» 


decline  in 
!  sealing, 
ear  of  the 


erd  of  the' 
stimate  of 
i!>7  bear  a 
000  skins 
nate  rehi- 
ditHcnlty 
eat  as  the 
o  account 
the  total 
nnm  size. 

llii^  catch 
C<'N8  <»f  till) 


CIIAPTKTI    V  I  II  . 

THE  CAUSE  OF  THE  DECLINE. 

JOINT  AGREEMENT  OK  1892. 

At  the  joint  meeting  of  American  and  British  investigators  in  18D2,  preceding 
the  Paris  Arbitration,  an  agreement  was  reached  that  "since  the  Alaska  purchase  a 
inarkeil  dimiiiuticni  in  the  number  of  seals''  on  the  I'ribilof  Islands  had  taken  place, 
and  that  this  diminution  was  "the  result  of  excessive  killing  by  man."  Hut  when  an 
attempt  was  made  to  analyze  what  was  meant  by  "excessive  killing"  each  connnission 
took  a  different  view.  The  commission  for  the  I'nited  States  claimed  that  it  was  the 
slaughter  at  sea  of  female  seals  that  was  responsible;  the  commissioners  fordreat 
Britain  held  that  land  killing  was  chieHy,  if  not  wholly,  responsible. 

As  has  already  been  shown,  the  decline  admitted  in  18!)2  has  ctmtinucd  t«)  the 
inesent  time  and  is  still  going  ;ni.  It  only  remains  for  us  now  to  locate  if  possible 
th»'  cause  of  the  decline,  to  distinguish  between  land  and  pelagic  killing. 

NO  NATURAL  CAUSE  COMPETENT  TO  EXPLAIN  THE  DECLINE. 

It  may  be  remarked  at  the  outset  that  the  investigations  of  the  past  two  seasons 
have  brought  to  light  no  natural  cause  of  injury  to  the  herd  which  can  be  connected 
with  its  decline.  The  subject  of  mortality  among  the  fur  seals  is  discussed  in  detail 
in  Part  HI  of  this  report.  It  is  only  necessary  here  to  say  that  among  the  a<lult  seals 
no  mortality  was  (bund  which  was  n<»t  due,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  contests  among 
the  bulls,  or  to  rough  treatment  of  the  cows  by  the  bulls.  In  the  case  of  the  very 
young  pups  an  hitherto  unknown  but  apparently  customary  cause  of  death,  due  to  the 
ravages  of  a  parasitic  worm  infesting  crowded  and  sandy  breeding  areas,  was  found 
to  be  responsible  for  a  large  number  of  deaths.  In  the  case  of  very  young  imjis  a 
certain  number  are  also  trampled  to  death  by  the  bulls.  The  number  dead  from  the.se 
causes  in  189(5  as  counted  anumnted  to  1 1,000,  1  )oubtle8s  a  considerable  number  were 
overlooked. 

NATURAL  CAUSES  OF  MORTALITY  CONSTANT. 

It  may  be  sai<l,  however,  that  Itoth  these  causes  of  death  are  as  old  as  the  herd 
itself,  and  were  more  active  when  the  herd  was  in  its  prime.  They  are  directly  related 
to  the  «'rowded  condition  of  the  rookeries  and  are,  therefore,  to-day,  at  a  minimuni. 
The  piiotographs  '  taken  by  the  British  commissioners  in  1801  and  181>2  show  that  the 

'  A  |iliciti)^riii>li  tiikcii  in  IHill  by  l>i'.  <;i'orf;<'  M.  Dawnon  hIiows  a  piirt  of  the  simdy  nortliciii  end 
of  'I'dlstoi  rookery  tliickly  strewn  with  <leii(l  piipN,  evidently  killed  liy  tlie  worm.  The  pliotoirp.iph 
■will  lie  I'omid  iiiiioni;  the  illiiittnitiuus  in  Ap)ieiidi\  III.  In  the  lollowiiiu;  year  Mr.  Mtuoiin  I'eportH 
liiidiu;;  liy  uctuid  eount  l,(MM)  dead  jtiips  mi  the  uaiid  Hut  ol'  tlins  rookery.  'I'lieHe  fiiits,  '^'ndiiiK  to 
show  the  preNeiice  of  lireedin);  seiils  iiiid  their  yoini};  in  territory  Ciir  lieyoud  the  preHent  eoiiliiien  of 
Tolstoi  I'uukery,  are  aUo  valnulde  us  proving'  the  great  shriiikaKe  of  thiH  rookery  since  lS9t. 

115 


"';3 


hi; 


THE   FUR   SKALS   OF   TIIK    I'RIHILOF   ISLANDS. 


I  I 


ilt'iitlis  tVoiii  ITiii-iiiiiriii  wt'ie  gr«;atcr  tlivii  in  proportion  as  tli«>  lu>r«l  wiih  (rii-iitor.  Tli» 
wiiitciml  Ihiih's  uf  )>iipH  on  Tolstoi  Siinds,  in  arms  not^.cctipied  in  18!M,  show  jtlainiy 
tliat  it  antedates  oven  that  tiino,  and  tiiuru  is  no  reason  to  supiwsc  that  itdid  not  exist 
thronglioiit  the  period  when  the  herd  was  in  its  prime.  It  was  probably  the  (letcrniiniiiK 
cheek  whith  prevented  the  herd's  indctlnito  in<'rease.  Wo  nuiy  infer  from  the  ll}rhtin}; 
and  striiftglin;;  of  the  limited  number  of  bulls  at  presLiit  on  tho  rookeries  that  in  a 
state  of  nature,  when  the  males  wore  practically  etpuil  to  the  females,  the  destruction 
from  such  liKbting  amoiij^  all  classes  of  seals  must  have  been  enormous. 

THE  REAL  CAUSE  OF  DECLINE  AN  ARTIFICIAL  ONE. 

We  may  therefore  assume  that  the  cause  or  causes  which  have  lea<l  to  the  decline 
«>f  the  herd  are  not  inherent  in  the  herd  itself.  In  short,  we  may  come  at  outre  to  the 
conclusion  arrived  at  in  1802  that  interference  by  u)an,  and  that  alone,  is  cliar^^eable 
with  the  decline. 

LAND  AND  SEA   KILLING. 

There  are  two  ways  and  two  only  by  which  the  acts  of  man  have  come  to  atlect 
the  fur-seal  herd.  These  are  (1)  by  killinjj  on  land,  which  has  been  practiced,  ever 
sintte  the  islands  were  discovered  in  178(>,  and  for  the  last  half  century,  at  least, 
without  change;  and  (li)  killin^r  at  sea,  which  has  been  practiced  to  a  limited  extent 
by  the  Indians  otl"  the  west  coast  of  America  from  a  very  early  date,  but  which  since 
about  1880  has  been  greatly  extended  by  the  introduction  of  sailin^r  vessels  under 
the  management  and  direction  of  white  men.  We  nniy  consider  first  the  o]ieration8 
of  land  killing  autl  their  etl'ect  on  the  herd. 

A.   LAND  KILLING— ITS  METHODS. 
ANIMALS   KILLKI). 

hand  killing  on  the  Pribilof  Islands  has  since  about  the  year  183")  been  confined 
strictly  to  the  removal  of  a  definite  number  of  young  males,  chiefly  3-year-olds, 
with  occasional  "long"'  2  year-olds  and  "sliorf  4year-olds,  which  approximate  the 
Syear-olds  in  size.  At  times  the  average  size  of  seals  killed  has  varied  from  this 
standard,  leaning  to  the  larger  seals  and  again  to  the  smaller  animals,  as  the  demands 
ot  the  market  or  the  condition  of  the  hauling  grounds  have  dictated. 

KILLING  SEASON. 

The  regular  killing  season  on  the  islands  lies  between  the  Ist  of  June  an<l  the  1st 
ot  August.  During  the  period  .ro  ii  about  the  middle  of  August  until  about  the 
middle  of  October  the  skins  of  tiie  seals  are  not  in  |»rinie  condition,  being  stagj',  as 
it  is  called,  owing  to  the  shedding  (  i"  the  liair.  After  the  middle  of  October  kilHng  is 
resumed  to  a  limited  extent  to  fnrmsli  meat  for  the  natives.  In  like  n)anner  the  seals 
are  killed  for  food  as  soon  as  they  arrive  in  the  spring,  usually  early  in  May.  These 
food  skins  are  accepted  as  part  of  the  quota  and  are  included  with  those  taken  in  the 
regular  killing  season. 

TIIK   l)i:iVlN(i    OF  THE  SEALS. 

The  y<»ung  bachelor  seals,  which  are  the  (^lass  taken  for  their  skins,  haul  out  on 
the  sand  beaches  or  in  the  rear  of  the  rookeries  and  at  a  distance  from  them.    In  the 


A    DRIVK    FUOM    TIIK    KKKI'. 


117 


eiiiiy  iiiorniiijf  llic  natives  visit  such  hauling  groiiiulH  as  liavo  been  hoUtUmI,  and, 
HurroundinK  tlm  aniinulH,  drive  tlieni  inland  to  the  ix»int  where  tliey  nniy  conveniently 
be  slan«:iiteied.  Ah  illnstniting  tiiis  process  of  driving,  we  nniy  «iiu)t«  the  following 
record  taken  from  tiie  Meld  n«>tes  of  tlie  commission: 


■^fi 


TlIK   DItlVK. 

Thr  ilrivr  IVoiii  Uorbiitcli  luitl  l{<if  niukiiiii*  this  moniiiiK  (.Iiily  \T>)  wiis  witiiOHNfd  liy  Dr.  .Ii>nliiii, 
l'i<ili'HNiii''l'lii>iii|>Noii.  1)1.  .Hti'jiii't;er.  .Mr.  I.iiciin,  mikI  .Mr.  (.'I.irk.  Ciiptain  .Monit  tiiiil  Lii'iiti'iiiiiit  (liiiiett, 
ol'  llic  A I  ha  I  rout,  wi-yr  iiIho  ])resi-iit.  Mr.  Ciiiwlcy,  Tn'iiMiiiy  iijjrnt,  rnniliirtiil  tin-  inovi'iiii'iitH  of  tlif 
viniti>is.     Kit'terii  Alriils  iiiiiili'  up  tin'  diiviii),'  imily. 

Wf  Irft  tlir  villiigc  lit  2  o'l'liick  in  llir  iiioniiiiK.  It  wiih  llini  \\n\\t  ciiiiiigli  to  iiiiikc  oiir's  wiiy 
witliuiit  ilittlriilly.  Aflcr  ii  IVw  iiiiiiiitt'N'  wnlk  Wd  rriiclnil  /olloi  hiiikIh,  ii  bciii'li  iiliuiil  iiiio-foiirtb  ul' 
II  lulle  from  the  villiiKi',  itt  the  iiiigli'  of  which  thi-  bachrloiH  fioiii  (iorhatcli  lookciy  hiiiil  out  to  icitch 
tUc  rocky  shipc  alioM-,  Tlir  ilrivrm  ran  in  i|iii('kly  liutwcni  tlic  sralw  anti  tlio  Hca  ami  hooii  hail  the 
iiiiiiiialM  roiniili'il  up  in  a  lai^''  1""''  I'loiii  .i  Hliiiil;ii'  litilllili;;  groiiiiil  on  the  Hhori'.jUMt  a<  tonn  llii'  iicck 
of  tilt'  pctiiiiHiila  aiiiitlii'i'  ]io(l  w:iH  in  like  inannri  loiimleil  ii|>.  Tin-  two  ]ioiIh  coinbiiicil  were  left  in 
chai'gr  of  thirc  nii'ii  to  br  ili'ivcn  acroits  the  niiihIh  Io  thr  village  killing  ;;i'oiiiiil  n  fuw  hmnliril  yurilN 
bcyonil. 

W'r  then  pi'ocrcili'tt  to  the  i'.\trciiii'  )ii>iiil  of  I  In    Kief  peniiiNiila.     'I'lii'  haiiliiiK  K<'oitnil  of  lieef 

rookery  Hi'h  in  the  rear  of  the  bveedin;;  groiinil  anil  ha>  four  well  niarkeil  runways  com ting  it  with 

the  sea,  on  which  no  hareiiiN  are  locateil.  \  line  of  iille  linlls  keeps  ch'ur  a  coiiHiilerable  spaeo  bet  ween 
the  hauling  groiiuil  anil  the  rookery.  Kroiii  the  head  of  the  various  runways  and  in  the  intervening 
space  ]iodH  of  Hieeping  liachelors  were  rounded  up,  ihe  Aleuts  passing  between  the  idle  IiiiIIh  and  the 
bachelorH  and  tnrniiig  the  latter  up  the  bank  to  the  Hat  parade  ground  back  of  the  baulinu;  ground. 
Here  the  pods  were  all  uiiiteil  in  one  large  gioiip  and  the  drive  started  on  its  way.  It  was  It  o'clock 
when  we  reached  the  point,  and  by  11.30  the  drive  wuh  in  motion. 

.\fter  pasHing  over  a  short  spaee  of  ground,  scattered  at  wide  interxals  with  irregular  bowlders 
and  having  a  gentle  slope,  the  drive  came  into  the  level  grassy  plain  of  the  parade  ground.  Hero  the 
herd,  which  iiuinbereil  about  1,5(M)  bachelors,  was  Hcparated  into  two  parts  for  greater  ease  and  safety 
in  driving.  While  one  pod  was  allowed  to  rest  the  other  was  driven  slowly  forwaid  in  the  direction 
of  the  village.  Three  iiieii  wore  now  .issigned  lo  ea-b  pod,  and  the  rest  cd'  ihi'  drivers  allowed  to 
return  to  the  vill.'iKe  to  make  ready  for  the  killing.     We  followed  the  lirst  herd. 

Over  the  green  turf  of  the  parade  ground  the  drive  moved  alon^  i|uietly  and  without  dilliciilty. 
The  drivers  took  their  positions  one  on  oaeh  tl.ink  to  repress  any  lateral  iiiovements,  and  the  third 
brought  lip  the  rear.  There  was  no  noise  or  confusion.  In  general  the  seals  were  allowed  to  take 
their  own  time  and  go  at  their  own  p.ice.  Those  in  the  advance  acted  as  leailcis,  and  the  rest  of  the 
Mock  followed  naturally  after  them.  At  the  beginning  the  seals  showed  some  reluctance  in  leaving 
their  Iianling  grounds,  and  made  ini'ti'ectuiil  attempts  to  break  away.  Itiit  after  the  drive  was  under 
way  they  moved  forward  apparently  as  a  matter  of  course.     When  the  leaders  showed  an  inclination 

to  take  the  wrong  course  the  men  on  the  think  simply  st 1  ii))  and  raised  a  hand,  w  liich  was  siitticieiit 

to  turn  them  back  into  the  way.     I'or  the  most  part  the  men  kept  out  of  si|r||i  ,if  the  seals. 

The  seals  on  the  drive  do  not  keep  up  a  continuous  motion.  They  take  ten  or  a  do>;en  steps  and 
then  sit  down  like  dogs  to  rest  and  pant,  resuming  their  way  when  they  tinil  that  their  (M>nipani()ns 
have  gone  on.  The  leaders  set  the  example,  and  as  they  ate  rested  by  the  time  the  rear  members  of 
the  herd  have  come  to  a  standstill,  they  move   on   and   are  ready  to  stoji  by  the  time  the  rear  j;iiai'il 

have  started.     The  result  is  that  some  ](art  of  the  herd  is  moving  all   the  ti anil  the  pro^rression  is 

continuous. 

There  Is  a  teiiilcncy  on  the  part  of  the  young  seals  to  go  faster  than  the  older  ones,  of  wliiih 
a  large  number  were  included.  Ity  a  gradual  sifting  prooesK  the  old  fellows  fell  to  the  rear,  and  on 
several  occasions  pods  of  from  a  do/.en  to  twenty  wore  cut  oil'  and  allowed  to  return  to  the  sea. 

All  the  seals  anil  especially  the  larger  ones  showed  signs  of  fatigue.  'I'hey  uppcnrcd  to  be  hot 
and  excited,  and  a  climd  of  steam  ro.se  constantly  from  the  moving  animals.  This  steam  had  a  strong 
musky  smell.  When  the  herd  stopped,  individual  seals  would  often  -prawl  out  on  the  <;r(Hiiid,  raising 
their  hind  llippers  and   waving  tliem  fan-like  evidently  in  an  eti'ort  to  cool  oil'.     After  resting  u 


(  ' 


lis 


TlIK    I'lIK    HKALH    OF    THK    I'RIBILOF   ISLANDS. 


iiiiiiiii'iit  tlioHi'iils  wttnt  I't'iidy  to  iiiovi'  mi  apimriMitly  n-fn'Mlicil.  CoiitliiiKiiiH  cxArtioii  istniiltiiillv  liaril 
on  thniii,  liiit  tlio.N  (jiiirkly  recoMT  rnnii  csliiiiiRtiiiii.  Am  hoiiii  as  the  lliick  coiiioh  to  irHt  fur  ii  I'inv 
iiKiiiii'iiU'  bi'xiitliiiiK.  tlic'Y  li<'){iii  lo  liiii'  Olio  aiiotliisi'  uml  ihihIi  in  an  iiiu'oiicei'iii'tl  faHliioii  nnlil  they  aiu 
I'l'iiiinilt'il  liy  llio  almiMico  of  their  <'oiii)iuiiion8  that  thoy  iiiiist  \n'«\>  iiioviiiK. 

'I'hu  HcalH  well'  nut  nr{{ril  forwaril,  Init  wcru  allowt'd  to  take  their  own  tinii'.  Wlicn  tho  honl 
\v»H  liroiifrht  to  r«Mt  tor  a  ftnv  iiiinntnM,  tlut  rear  ilri\"r  Htuiti-il  tlii'in  on  hy  i'hk|i|iiii);  hlH  IimikIh  or  hy 
nittliii);  n  Htick  on  a  rock,  (Mir  prrMKiH'o  I'vidi-iitly  nr^rd  tlii'  Hi-alH,  and  mad)'  tlit-  diivu  ri'tilly  hardrr 
than  It  would  ordinarily  liavo  iiueii.  Tho  AliMits  him'Iii  to  have  a  way  oT  haiidliii;;  tliu  HualK  tliat  tiny 
iiiidt'rNtand. 

A  Nliort  distanci'  liroii){ht  iih  to  th<«  oiul  of  the  ^raHHy  plain  and  into  an  area  of  Kroiind  llllcd  with 
enilieddrd  liowhit'iH.  'rhimc  were  I'or  the  most  )inrt  llat  and  worn  Hiiiooth.  It  lookrd  liki'  lianl  ^(roiind 
lor  tho  Hi'alH,  lint  iu  reality  th»y  Mi'*-in  to  frrt  over  it  li<<it('r  than  the  llat  Kruiind.  On  tint  flat  then- 
wait  roiiNtaiit  rrow'diiiK,  while  hero  tlie  lockf)  kept  the  NeiiU  apart.  The  nninialM  art'  really  inor)' 
iainillai'  with  the  rocky  tiroiiiid,  their  lin-ediiiK  rookerieH  with  lew  exceptions  lieiiiK  on  the  rocky 
heaelieH. 

After  paMHin^  over  anliglit  riil^re,  where  the  paHsaKeway  bei'itine  narrowed  hy  proJeutiiiK  elill'Mand 
wliere  there  was  a  piod  deal  of  crowding  and  HcrainhliiiK,  tlie  dri\(i  loft  tho  liowlder-Htrewii  |iatli  and 
passed  into  a  valley  overgrown  with  tall  Klyinns  (tiuhh  and  lying  hetween  rows  of  sand  diineH  alHn 
graHs-growii.  The  seals  seem  to  ho  refreHJu^l  liy  the  nndstiire  of  tho  graHs,  which  was  wet  with  ilew 
and  rain. 

TliiM  grassy  (liain  h'd  into  the  top  of  the  liowlder-set  slope  above  Zoltoi  sands,  from  which  tho 
earlier  Heals  were  driven.  The  NcalH  jiassod  down  this  slope  without  dilllciilty  and  came  into  the  level 
sand  llat.  Here  the  liiHt  really  hard  work  of  tho  drive  liogaii.  ThcHi'aUNcemcd  to  find  tin  ir  greatest 
dillioiilty  in  walking  on  the  yielding  sand.  Tlieir  dippers  take  hold  of  the  rockH  like  niliher,  hut  slip 
liack  ill  the  sand.  No  rocks  preventi-d  the  animals  from  crowding.  They  Htopjiod  on  each  other's 
IlipperH,  liecaino  much  excited,  and  seemed  generally  worried. 

lint  in  a  few  minntca  the  nauds  were  jiassed  and  the  herd  emerged  into  tlie  grass-grown  killing 
ground.  As  hooii  as  tlie  HealH  came  to  a  Htnndstill,  they  Hecined  to  forget  their  tronhlcs.  At  once 
they  began  biting.  Hiiarling,  and  blowing  at  one  another  as  though  nothing  had  liiip])oncil.  I'hey 
were  then  tnriicd  into  the  littlu  lake  beside  the  killing  grouiid  to  cool  olV,  iiiid  wiTc  herdeil  up  on 
the  bank  to  rest  until  thoir  turn  came  to  be  killeil. 

It  was  .'<  minutes  after  .">  when  tho  llrst  herd  reached  the  killing  ground.  The  second  arrived 
tlirei-<|uarters  of  an  hour  afterwards,  having  taki'ii  more  time  on  the  way. 


THE  KILLlNd. 

Xftor  the  seals  liavo  siUlicieiitly  rested  siiid  coided  oH"  tlio  killiiijj:  is  bepin.  Tlie 
1ai'};e  di'ove  of  animals  is  put  lit  niotioi)  in  tlie  direction  ot'  the  spot  where  the  killing 
is  to  begin.  Two  men  elose  in  on  the  moving  animals  and  ent  otV  a  small  ])od  of  from 
twenty-five  to  fifty,  turning  the  main  body  back.  This  smidl  groni»  is  driven  up 
within  reach  of  a  iinmber  of  men  armed  with  eliibs.  These  "cull"  out  the  "kill.able" 
.seals  (.'5-year  (lids,  large  liyear  olds,  ;ind  sniall  4-year-olds)  by  striking  them  on  the 
head,  allowing  the  nonkillable  .seals  (yearlings,  small  liyear  olds,  iiiid  all  "wiggetl'' 
seals)  to  escajie  iind  make  their  way  back  to  the  .sea.  As  soon  as  one  i»od  is  knocked 
down,  a  .second  is  cut  out  and  driven  up.  This  process  is  continued  until  the  drove 
is  exhausted. 

THK   AI.EUT.s. 

The  operations  of  the  killing  ground  are  carried  out  by  the  Aleuts,  under  the 
immediate  direction  of  the  native  chief,  who  is  in  turn  subject  to  the  direction  of  the 
agent  of  the  lessees.  The  latter  supervises  the  clubbing  and  indicates  the  pro]»er 
grade  of  iinimals  to  be  selected.  The  drives  are  authorized  by  the  agent  of  the 
(lovernnuMit,  iiiid  he  is  required  to  be  present  on  the  killing  grounds  to  look  after  the 
interests  of  the  tloverniueut  as  the  owner  of  the  herd. 


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EFFKCTS   OK    LA  'D    KILLING. 


119 


Witli  tilt'  knocking  down  of  the  killablc  seals  iinit  tlie  reloiise  of  those  not  Huitiible, 
the  work  of  handling;  the  seals  on  land  ceasea  to  liave  any  erte<-t  on  the  life  of  the 
herd.  The  inoeesses  of  taking'  and  curing  the  skins  have  been  so  well  descrribed  by 
Mr.  Kliiott  and  others  that  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  redescribe  them,  but  for  the 
sake  of  completeness  a  brief  siimnniry  may  be  given. 

SKINNINU   THE  SKAI-S. 

As  the  animals  are  clubbed  they  are  stretched  out  in  order,  with  space  for  the 
skinners  to  work  about  them.  The  skull  of  the  fur  seal  is  its  weakest  point,  and  the 
blow  of  the  club  renders  the  animal  instantly  unconscious,  if  it  does  not  kill  it 
outright.  It  is  immediately  stuck  to  the  heart  with  a  knife,  which  serves  the  double 
(Mirpose  of  insuring  death  and  bleeding  the  animal. 

TIIK   DIVISION   Ol"  LAUOB  (»N   THK   KILMNO   FIKLl). 

The  Aleuts,  by  whom  the  various  operations  are  carried  on.  follow  at  jtresent  a 
sy.steunitic  division  of  labor,  working  in  four  .sections,  the  operations  of  "clubbing," 
"sticking,"  "llip|»ering,"  and  ".skinning"  goingou  simnltaneou-sly.  The  clubbing  and 
skinning  are  <lone  by  the  most  skillful  and  experienced  of  the  men.  The  beginners  do 
the  sticking  and  tlippering.  This  las>t  process  involv«>s  the  cutting  of  the  skin  loose 
from  about  the  no.se,  tail,  and  flippers,  and  slitting  it  through  the  median  line  of  the 
belly.  When  this  is  done  the  animal  pa-sses  into  the  hands  of  the  skinner,  who 
removes  the  ])elt  with  a  few  (piick  strokes  of  the  knife,  spreading  it  out  llesii  side 
downward  on  the  grass  to  cool. 

THK  TKKATMKNT   <»r  THE   SKINS. 

The  skins  are  gathered  up  in  wagons  and  counted  into  the  salt  house,  where  they 
are  salted  in  tiers,  with  the  tlcsh  side  up.  layers  of  .salt  alteriniting  with  tin'  .skin.s. 
After  lying  thus  for  live  or  six  days  they  are  taken  out  and  resulted  in  reverse  order. 
They  remain  in  this  salt  for  about  ten  days  or  two  weeks,  when  the  process  «tf  curing 
is  complete,  and  they  are  taken  out,  wrapped  in  neat  bundles,  each  containing  two 
skins,  and  tied  .securely,  ready  for  shipment. 

The  skins  are  then  counted  into  the  bidara,  which  is  to  lighter  them  to  the  ship,  and 
are  counted  for  a  third  lime  into  the  hold  of  the  vessel.  At  San  l-'ranci.sco  they  are 
phiced  in  casks  and  shipped  to  London,  where  they  are  dressed  and  <lyed  and  tinally 
distributed  t4>  be  mannfactnied  into  garments. 

THE    EFFECTS   OF    LAND    KILLING. 

Owing  to  the  i»olygamons  habit  of  the  fur  seals,  the  greater  part  of  the  nuile  life 
born  is  superthutus  for  breeding  jdirposes.  I'ttr  the  1,'{(),000  breeding  cows  found  on 
the  rookeries  of  .St.  Paul  and  St.  (ieiuge  islands  in  the  season  of  18!)7.  4,418  bulls  were 
adequate,  or  at  least  out  of  fully  KMKM)  adult  bulls  ready  iind  willing  to  serve  harems, 
only  this  number  were  able  to  obtain  them.  Therefore  only  1  bull  in  30  is  absolutely 
necessary  under  present  conditions.  That  this  limit  could  he  materially  lowered 
without  i)08itive  danger  to  the  herd  is  conclusively  shown  by  the  history  of  the 
Bu.s.sian  herd  on  IJering  Island,  where  the  observations  of  the  i»ast  three  years,  as 
detailed  by  Dr.  Stejnegcr,  .show  that  a  male  fur  seal  is  capable  of  attending  to  the 
wants  of  between  KM)  ami  lidO  cows. ' 


'  Stoj lienor,  I'rel.  lifiiurt,  1897,  i>.  U. 


^ 


120 


TIIK    FIIK    8KAL.S    OF   THE    PRIHILOl'    ISLANDS. 


it 


BKMOVAI-  ol"  SlM'KBl'LUOrS  MAl.K,   LIl'K   HK.NKKKMAL. 

Moreover,  tlio  rt'inoval  of  this  siipertliiotis  iiiale  lit'*'  is  not  only  possible,  but  is 
really  heneticial  to  tlie  herd.  As  already  indicated,  the  only  deaths  anions  adult 
bulls  and  eows  discovered  upon  the  rookeries  of  the  islands  resulted  from  the  strujj- 
^les  of  the  bulls  anu)njj;  thtMuselves  or  to  obtain  possession  of  the  rows.  In  the  death 
of  youn^r  ])ups  also  this  ti^rhtiii};  and  stru;>:glini(  of  the  bulls  is  a  small  but  by  no  nu'uns 
insi^rnilicant  cause  of  loss.  In  IStXi  the  great  early  mortality  among  luirsing  pups  was 
wrongly  ascribed  to  the  trampling  of  the  lighting  bulls,  lint  while  the  more  complete 
and  satisl'act(n'y  investigation  of  I8!)7  shows  auother  and  more  important  cause,  there 
still  remains  a  considerable  loss  from  this  source.  This  loss  is  now  insignilii-ant 
compared  with  what  it  was  in  the  wild  state  of  the  henl.  When  the  number  of  adult 
males  and  females  was  practically  eipuil,  the  destructimi  both  auuing  the  cows  and 
auKMig  the  pups  must  have  been  enormous.  It  undoubtedly  rivaled  the  ravages  of 
the  worm  ITncimiria  in  its  destructive  work  and  combined  with  it  toolfset  the  natural 
increase  of  the  herd. 

I'OSSinil.lTV   OF   OVKKKlLLINCi. 

While  as  a  general  prim-iple  the  removal  of  these  superlluous  males  is  beneticial 
to  the  herd,  excessive  removal  would  undoubtedly  lead  to  disastrous  results.  The 
percentage  of  uuvles  recpiircd  for  the  needs  of  propagation  is  small,  but  it  is  essential, 
and  if  reduced  too  low  or  cut  oft"  entirely  the  etlect  must  be  injurious.  .Such  excessive 
killing  would  be  felt  in  the  scarcity  of  bulls,  from  which  cause,  through  inadequate 
service,  the  usual  increase  of  pups  would  not  be  born  and  the  heid  nuist  ultinuitely 
begin  to  fail.  It  is  on  this  ground  that  laud  killing  becomes  a  |)(»ssible  source  of 
danger  to  the  herd. 

A  UYPOTIIKTICAL   CASK. 

To  understand  how  such  killing  would  act,  let  us  take  a  hypothetical  case.  If  in 
any  given  year  absolutely  every  3-year  old  nnile  was  killed  to  till  the  ipiota,  this 
would  involve  the  absence  of  rei>resentatives  of  this  (ilass  of  s»'als  from  the  reserve  of 
bulls  tor  the  replenishment  of  the  rookeries  in  subseipient  years.  It  would  not  alfect 
the  breeding  bulls,  nor  the  reserves  of  four,  live,  and  six  years.  These  latter  would 
supply  the  deliciency  in  the  breeding  stock  caused  by  old  age  for  at  least  ten  years,  and 
it  would  take  that  period  at  least  to  show  the  effect  of  the  ch»se  killing.  If  it  was 
not  repeated,  no  intluence  would  be  felt.  The  7-year ohl  bull  of  the  following  year 
would  simply  enter  the  rookeries  as  a  (5-year-old. 

Hut  suppose  the  killing  was  continued  through  a  series  of  years,  every  .'{-year- 
old  being  killed,  the  reserve  would  in  time  be  cut  oft"  and  the  stock  of  breeding  bulls 
would  die  out.  It  is  impossible  to  say  how  long  it  would  take  to  produce  this  etlect, 
betrause  we  do  nttt  know  the  length  of  the  lifiv  of  the  bull.  We  nniy  infer,  however, 
that  it  is  not  less  than  lifteen  years,  ami  therefore  the  injurious  elVe«^ts  of  this  exces- 
sive killing  begun  in  any  given  year  and  continued  iudetinitely  would  not  be  seen 
within  ten  years  at  least. 

This  is  only  a  hypothetical  case,  but  it  shows  what  is  meant  by  too  ch)se  killing 
of  nnvles  in  tilling  the  quota.  The  killing  of  males,  which  wcmld  ju-oduce  imuu'diate 
and  disastrous  results,  nuist  strike  at  the  adult  unties.  To  destroy  this  class  or  any 
considerable  nuud)er  of  them  would  at  oiu-e  weaken  the  herd.  liut  then^  would  be 
nti  object  in  such  killing,  and  it  Las  never  been  thought  of. 


i 


N(»    OVKUKII.MNU    OK    M.\L18, 


121 


MICH    KII.MNti    NOT    I'llAC  I  ICAni.K. 

Ill  flip  liypotliptical  <iis«>  aliovo  cited  we  liuvc  snppostMl  that  every  iiial»M)('a  jiiveii 
a(H' could  betaken.  While  in  tiicory  this  i^  iMis,sil)h',  in  juaclico  it  coiihl  jtiiibtiltly 
never  bo  (lone.  There  are  certain  iianlin(f  ;;riinn(ls,  hucIi  an  lia;;onn, /apadni  Head. 
Otter  Ishind,  Sivutdi  Ifock.  anil  Houtliwest  I'oint.  I'roni  wliicii  tiu*  seals  are  nut  and 
have  nevi'i'  been  driven.  The  vunnn  nudes  iVeiinentin};  thcM'  are  lelt  undisturbed, 
and  it  is  safe  to  snp])ose  that  the  nni.jiMity  of  them  pasH  kiilaide  a^'e  before  tiie  s(>\ual 
instinct  draws  them  to  tiie  vicinity  of  the  rookeries  from  wliieli  se;ds  are  driven. 
I'lirtherinore.  there  are  always  litth'  ;>ods  of  bachelors  in  the  turns  and  corners  of  the 
rookerii  which  either  can  not  be  reached  or  are  t«H>  insi^'iiitieaiit  in  nniuber  U)  bu 
followed  M|t. 

OTTKU   ISLAND   NoT   DIMVf.N. 

Otter  Island,  one  of  these  haulinj;  tjrounds  from  which  seals  are  never  killed, 
must  liave  been  a  source  of  reserve  male  life  thiouylioiit  tln^  hist<M\  (d"  the  lierd. 
i<'rom  the  records  in  the  lojr  of  St.  Paul  of  the  days  when  a  ;;uaid  was  stationed 
thereto  prevent  raids,  we  ku)»w  that  anywhere  from  two  to  t«>n  thousand  bachelors 
huuh'd  out  there  re;,'ularly.  During'  the  jiast  summer  at  lea-^t  l,(MKI  yonnj;  nuiles  were 
found  at  the  time  the  island  was  visited.  Tliero  were  also  from  ~Mt  to  «(Ml  males  of 
this  sort  on  Hivutuh  Hock  at  the  time  of  its  inspection  in  1S07.  These  yoiin^  nuUes 
are  not  disturbed,  and  from  these  hauling'  ^.^rouiuls  aloiut  an  adequate  supply  ol 
reserve  male  life  nu;iht  be  expected  today  if  none  whatever  escaped  otherwise.  In 
the  earlier  days  w  hen  the  herd  was  larger  their  yield  was  also  larj^er. 


of 
feet 
i>uld 
and 
was 
ear 


re«ft, 
-er, 
•es- 
•eu 

ling 

late 

iiiiy 

be 


I 


DKFECTIVK    SKINS. 

One  other  matter  in  this  coiinei;tioii  is  worth  mentioning,  l-'rom  the  killing  Held 
at  every  killing  a  considerable  number  of  young  males,  otlu'rwise  .strong  and  vigorous, 
are  rejected  because  of  some  defect  in  the  skin,  chielly  bites  or  scars  of  imperfectly 
healed  wounds.     These  males  go  to  swell  the  <|iiota  of  reserve  male  life. 

<lVi;!{KII,l.lN(i    OI'    MAI.KS    HAS   NOT   IKCI  K1{K1>. 

Wo  far  we  have  considered  the  possibility  of  too  (dose  killing  of  males.  Let  us 
examine  the  facts  in  the  case.  At  the  time  the  herd  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
rnited  States  it  was  in  a  prosperous  coiu.ition,  probaldy  increasing,  and  it  main- 
tained a  inaxiinuiu  condition  of  expansion  for  a  number  of  years.  We  need  theref«»ro 
not  go  back  of  the  transferor  the  rookeries  to  the  I'nited  States  in  ccnisidering  the 
causes  (d'  decline. 

From  the  year  1871  a  nominal  <piota  id"  100,0(M»  male  .seals  was  taken  ea«'h  year  to 
and  including  188!).  Since  188!)  the  quota  has  tluctiiated  as  a  result  of  various  caii.se.s. 
To  and  including  the  year  18!)<»  there  were  killed,  in  addition  to  the  normal  quota  each 
year  for  food  for  the  natives,  from  .■$,()()()  to  0,0(10  male  jmps.  There  was  further  a  large 
killing  of  males  for  food  in  the  stagy  .season  and  of  animals  too  young  to  furnish 
skins  of  the  desired  grade  for  the  quota.  Since  1890  the  killing  of  pups  has  been 
slopped,  as  also  the  killing  of  stagy  seals. 


PF« 


^^ 


122 


TIIK    I'lIU    MKAI.S    OK    THE    I'RirUI.OF    IHLANDS. 


SIAIISTies  (»l'   TIIK   (>r»»TA. 


Till!  luiiiiiiil  killing:  of  limit'  lil'u  on  tlie  t'ln-Ht'ikl  islamls  iliiriiif;  tli«*  perioil  of  the 
tli'st  IciiHU  \v(>  lliid  liiiH  iiv(>i'a(;<>(t  iilioiit  IO.'>,<Hll>  pt'i'  year.  Tlu*  rollowiii;;  taltiv  k>vi'h 
tliu  total  killiii)(Hor  males  lor  all  |Mirpost'H  \vli»tHiH>vei'  tor  tiii^  pcrioil  in  ijiieHtioii: 

li\»A  killiuij,  i,s;o~isH!i. 


Vi«ar. 

Liinil      ' 

Vfiif. 

kI 

V-iir. 

1,11 

ml 

kill 

nu 

kill 

»u 

kllliliu. 

kill 

nu. 

IH7II 

•.':i 

TM 

1K7.-. 

UNI 

tl.U 

IHMI 

lll&,7IH 

IHM,-. 

iiir> 

OM 

IH7I 

III'.' 

IHUI 

1X711 

IM 

«r.7 

IHHI 

Iii5.iia:i 

IMIMI 

IIM.  521 

IK72  

ICIX 

MIU 

IM77 

Ml 

•iiii 

IKH'.' 

mt.  HI'.' 

1MM7 

iu;i 

7)M 

lH7;i 

Kill 

177 

:h7h    ... 

mil 

:r.';i 

IHKI..       . 

"11  'ii'ii 

IMMH 

IIKI 

;WM 

1H7< 

11" 

riK.'i 

I87'.i 

nu  411 

mm...  . 

III.'-.  4:m 

IfWU 

iii'j 

•117 

i      i 


Voj.rSTAIiV  HKIHlTloN  of  i^lo'JA   IN  IM7tt-"7. 

From  an  exaniiiuitioii  of  this  table  wo  liiid  that  Itclwccii  the  years  ISTl  and  iHTn, 
inclusive,  an  average  of  l(>7,r)lNi  male  seals  were  annually  killed  on  the  islands.  In 
IH70-77  this  avt'iajje  was  rodiieed  to  S.S,r»tMI.  Some  »|iiesti(iii  had  heeii  raiseil  liy  Tap- 
tain  Itryaiit,'  then  anient  in  ehar^'e  of  the  islands,  as  to  theetVeet  of  the  killing'  of  this 
full  ipiota.  lie  liad  even  reedniiiended  that  it  be  reduced.  This  may  have  inlliienced 
the  contraction  in  the  i|nota,  but  it  was  n(»t  insisted  upon  by  the  (ioveriinient  and  was 
voluntary  on  the  part  of  the  lessees.  The  fact  tliat  in  1.S7S  killing  was  resumed  and 
continued  at  an  average  <tf  10.">,tMM)  tor  four  years  shows  clearly  enough  that  the  alarm 
about  the  <|Uotii  felt  by  Captain  Kryaiit  was  without  touiidation.  The  temporary 
reduction  tor  the  two  years  could  not  have  intliienced  the  herd.  Itiit  in  these  two 
years  we  liave  a  right  to  assume  that  at  least  ;{8,(HI0  young  males  of  the  age  of  .'5 
years  were  allowed  to  escape  and  grow  ii))  as  an  additi(Ui  to  the  reserve  of  bulls. 

VOLINTAKY  KKliI  (   I'lON  IN  I8S2-S:!. 

In  1882  and  188:(  we  find  a  similar  redmttiim  to  88,7<K)  of  the  (piota  of  male  life 
from  the  ))receding  average  of  l((."»,(MMl.  This  eontraction  was,  as  we  know,  purely  vol 
niitary  on  the  part  of  the  lessees  and  due  to  the  overstocked  condition  of  the  seal-skin 
market.  That  it  was  not  due  to  any  scarcity  of  seals  is  clearly  enough  shown  by  the 
fUct  tliat  the  killing  was  in  I8H4  re.sumed  and  continued  at  an  average  of  I(I4,4<M)  until 
the  year  issil. 

The  point  we  wish  to  make  clear  is  that  the  •18,(100  males  in  this  tirst  e.vtraordinary 
reservation  made  in  187<i-77,  .i  years  old  at  the  time,  were  7  years  old,  or  ready  for 
harem  duty  in  1880-81,  and  10  years  of  age,  or  in  their  breeding  iirime  in  188."»-8(i, 
when  the  decline  in  the  herd  was  well  begun.  Likewise,  the  second  reservation  of 
.'{li.soo  young  bulls  was  ready  to  replenish  tlifi  rookeries  in  18S(i-S7,  and  they  were 
still  in  their  prime  in  1S80  and  subsequent  years  when  tlie  decline  was  in  the  height. 

NO   DKAHTH   <il'   MALK   Lll'K. 

That  the  young  male  life  represented  by  these  annual  killings  from  1871  to  1880 
should  liave  been  produced  upon  these  rookeries  is  in  itself  abumlant  proof  that 
there  was  no  <leartli  of  lireeding  males.     In  its  prime  1.'.~>,0II0  bulls  were  ample  for  the 

'  St'u  uxtractH  I'roiii  the  log  of  St.  I'uul,  Pt.  II,  iiiiili-r  tliittt  of  .lime  It),  .Inly  L'.~>,  AiigilHt  I,  et«.,  I87.'i. 


i 


ANTICIPATION   OK   TMK   yUOTA. 


1J3 


1 


needs  of  tlic  lieiinl.  IJy  the  extriionliiiiiry  leserviitioiiH  of  mule  lite  « liitli  we  liiive 
jiiKt  noted  niure  tlian  snttleient  linlls  were  snpplieil  to  the  ronkeries  iVoin  and  tittcM' 
|H,SO  to  meet  their  neetls.  Tins  wuH  in  itddition  to  the  re^Miliir  reserviitionH  whieli 
were  nukde  t'rnm  ,v«>ai-  to  year  and,  I'lirtlier,  in  addition  to  thoxe  whieli  eseuped  natnially 
on  hanlini;  ^nonnds  not  driven. 

In  the  history  of  thiit  period,  as  reeorded  in  the  lo);  of  .St.  I'aul  Island,  there  is 
nothing;  to  show  that  the  breeding'  ({rounds  were  not  amply  stoeked  with  hulls,  anti 
on  the  killing'  grounds  systennitie  provision  whh  made  tor  the  neeussary  reserve  of 
male  life. 

KII,IJNU    i»r    MAI.KS   NOT    \    KAOTOU    IN    KKCI.INK. 

When  we  tonsider  all  thesr  thint;s  in  eonnection  with  tin- difllrulties  whieli  wo 
have  shown  to  stand  in  the  way  even  of  a  deliberate  attempt  to  kill  too  elosely,  we 
believe  ourselves  fully  just i tied  in  asserting  that  land  killing  has  not,  thiont^h  too 
close  killint;  of  the  males,  been  a  faetor  in  the  decline  of  the  herd. 

IMtKMATIKK   KILLINO. 

It  vemaiiis  to  be  noted  that  there  is  another  class  of  close  killing'  which,  while  it 
does  not  injuriously  atfect  the  herd  as  a  wlitde.  produces  etlects  which  are  unfortunate 
and  which  may  ap|>ear  to  be  harmful  although  they  are  not  so. 

We  have  said  that  from  1H.S4  to  IH8!>  an  avernKe  of  KM.  KM)  male  seals  were  killed 
<ui  the  islands  each  year.  This  w(Hdd  seem  to  indicate  a  normal  condition  of  the 
herd,  while  as  a  matter  of  tiu^t  we  know  that  during;  this  period  the  herd  was  rapidly 
declining,  and  the  immediate  drop  from  100,(NK)  skins  in  1HS<>  t,>  2I,(NH)  in  ISIMI 
proves  it. 

ANTKII'ATKlN   <>K  <,H'(»TA. 

To  understand  how  this  killing  could  be  thus  maintained  it  is  only  necessary  to 
remember  that  the  quota  of  killable.  or  nominally  3year  old  seals,  is  <;tilled  from  a  herd 
of  bachelors  which  contains  also  the  tpiota  of  two  subsequent  years  as  L'year-olds 
and  yearlings.  When  in  I8.S.">  the  killable  seals  began  to  gradually  become  s«!arce 
upon  the  hauling  grounds,  it  at  tlrst  became  necessary  to  drive  oftener,  to  in(;lude 
more  hauling  grounds,  and  tlnally  to  increase  the  period  of  driving.  Tliis  matt  r  can 
be  made  clear  by  the  following  table: 

Tahte  Hhowiiiij  dale  of fiUinij  i/iitila,  iiiimher  of  IkiuUiiii  iiniiinilii  itiid  drh-m,  St.  I'mil  Inlaiid. 


Yi'Br. 


ball'         lliiiiliiii;     N'liiiiliir 
illlnlii         ^rnlllKir,  (il* 

tfllril.i       ilriviMi.'     ilHv.s.' 


at 
the 


IHHO Iiilv 

IMI Inly 

1HH2 hilV 

1H8I July 

lH«t ,  .Inly 

Ili«5 1  .Inly 

188« liilv 

1887 lu\\ 

1888 Iiijy 

188K Inly 


'  l>«t<'  nt  wliiih  luHl  ri'),'iilai'ilrhc'  (cii-  ilir  i|iiiitu  wax  miriIi'. 

'Si'viTiil  liniiliii):  KroiiiKln  hit  iiiilmli'il  ill  u  niiiKlv  ilri\«:  iih,  lor  t-xuiiipli'.  TiilHtiii,  Midclli'  Hill. ami  KiikHhIi  Hay  are 
rv|{iiliirly  iui'liidwl  in  uiii'  ilrivn. 


IT 

7K 

;iH 

211 

(Ml 

:i4 

'.Ml 

Mil 

:ie 

II) 

M 

;iu 

>l| 

nil 

42 

27 

inii 

ti.i 

•-'« 

117 

74 

■J4 

|ii| 

A6 

-7 

lO'J 

73 

:ii 

nil 

74 

il 


^ 


124 


THE    i'l'H    SEAL.H    <>F    TMK    I'UIIUI.uK    ISLANDS. 


THE    KILLING   <IF    INDKUSI/KIi    SKALS. 


l'\)r  il  tiiiK'  tliese  more  vinoroiw  laetliiiil.s  had  tiin  def»irwl  ett'ect,  but  tlie  scarcity 
of  biiclielors  as  a  result  oftlie  dfcreasimij  l)irtli  rate  mailv  ir  necessary  tiiially  to  lower 
the  age  for  killahle  seals  so  as  to  iucauile  first  the  _  veai-olds  and  in  the  end  nuiny 
of  the  larger  yearlings,'  in  order  to  i.*wnire  the  rei|ui.-it<  lo(l,(M)((  skins.  By  these 
methods  it  hapjjened,  in  l.SS'.t.  that  |)raelicaliv  the  wiioie  biu-iielor  herd  of  lonr  years 
and  under,  down  to  the  yearlings,  was  wiped  out.  Tut-  result  was  the  abnormal  drop 
to  L'1,(KK>  in  the  (luota  of  ISitO. 

SICH    KILLING    DID    NOT    IN.HIJE    TIIK    IIEKK. 

It  is  evident,  however,  that  this  sort  ot  killing  is  not  inimical  to  the  breeding  herd. 
It  simply  destroys  the  superrtuous  bachelors  through  premature  killing.  It  is  an 
anticipation  in  the  (piota  of  one  year  ot  the  product  of  the  next.  That  even  the  close 
killing  of  1S8!)  did  not  endanger  the  iierd  i>  clearly  shown  in  thai  it  was  possible  to 
secure,  in  IfSiM),  21,(MM)  seals  of  killabie  age.  This  fact  alone  shows  that  in  the  nature 
of  things  it  is  imi)ossible  to  get  all  ihe  males  ot  a  certain  age  in  any  given  year. 
That  there  were  21,0(10  seals  which  were  (»f  killaul*'  age  in  18!M»  may  be  taken  as 
showing,  indirectly  at  least,  that,  in  like  manner,  other  older  baciidors  escaped,  which, 
in  the  interval  between  lS8i»  and  l.HOO.  had  |)assed  to  the  'wigged"  stage,  wiicre 
they  were  no  lonjjfcr  suitable  tor  the  i|Uota.  Of  this  class  Mr.  Klliott  records  in  his 
1890  report  the  turning  back  of  1.112  from  a  |)art  of  the  killings  of  that  year. 

I'KKMATlKi;    KILLIN'Ci    WASTEPIM-,    Mil'    NOT    I.N.UKlOfS. 

It  is  not  the  intention  here  to  Justify  the  methods  of  killiu';  (;m])loyed  in  the 
closing  years  ot  the  lease  of  the  Alaska  Commercial  <'ompany.  Such  killing  ought 
never  to  Iwve  lM*en  allowed.  It  would  not  have  occurred  had  noi  tiic  termination  of 
the  letise  l»»*n  lipproatdiing,  as  it  would  have  been  wholly  against  the  interest  of  the 
lesnees.  \Un  n  is  not  conceivable  that  such  killing  could  '\<m'  utlect  the  life  of  tlie 
aeitd,  ii»i  it  woiiU"  necessarily  bring  ti-  ruin  th<-  business  of  taking  .seal  skins  on  land 
mnjS  iMttbre  it  •«««tid  produce  any  eti'ecf  on  tU**  bleeding  herd. 

KIIJ.INC    Ol-   VVrt*   WASTEFUL. 

Nor  (^an  nt^  niuttcful  practice  of  killiing  pups  lor  food  and  killing  seals  when 
stag  vhic'i  muwiessariiy  augmented  Mie  draft  on  the  male  life  of  the  herd,  bo 
pass«*<  •  vet  MTiitmt  cnndemnation,  Tht  magnitude  of  this  wast«f  injiy  be  inferred 
from  :  •    ')Iiih    i\___  -\-mo|isis  taken  fr<»m  rie-  rv<*ords:''' 


JMa<«  killeii  irlionv  hUih'  irrrc  iranlrd,  IS7  l-.'S!Ki. 


Httittp.tmml-) ._ 

T«t^ — 


if  I>r.  Mcliir«w,  Henate  iJor.  137,  Pt.  1,  p.  3iri. 
Butlix  I. 


27, 790 
M,  798 


l.M,  2lti 


i 


MKI'HOPS    ON    TMK    CoMMANDEK    ISI.ANUS. 


125 


of 

III 


Ml 

I'd 


< 

I 

4 

I 


vusKNci.  ur  iN.irwv  m  Tin;  iii'.un. 

This  (oiiili'iiiiiatioii,  liuwever,  iimst  n-st  solely  on  tlu^  Imsis  of  tliu  wiustr  involved, 
ll  H'sulted  ill  no  in.inry  to  the  lieid  lioeiuise  there  were  stilt  eiioiiyli  males,  and  to 
spare.  In  spite  of  the  iinneeessaiy  draft  on  its  male  life,  and  in  spite  ol  the  preina 
tine  ;;atheriii}j  of  its  product  in  the  closiii}:  years  of  the  (dd  lease,  the  male  life  nee»led 
tor  the  lueediii^'  herd  iievpi  faileii.  The  breodiiiy;  jjioiinds  are  to  day  yio'^wly  over- 
stocked with  adult  Ineedintj  '"dls  which  can  not  be  less  than  S  years  of  a;,'e,  and 
many  of  them  must  i»e  older,  tiieir  birth  datinjj  from  the  vi-ry  period  when  the  closest 
killiiif,'  took  plai-e.  In  addition  to  the.se  tiie  rookeries  are  beinj;  Hooded  by  a  swarm 
of  yoiiii(;er  bulls  as  a  result  of  the  partial  suspension  of  killing  under  the  modus  vivendi 
of  l.s!M -!».!. 

METHODS   ON    Tin;   roMMANOKH    ISLANDS. 

<  )ver  tlie  whole  subject  of  land  killing,  as  conducted  on  the  I'ribilof  Lslands,  a  flood 
of  li;>lit  is  thrown  by  a  comparison  with  the  methods  in  vov:ne  on  the  Commandei' 
Islands.  On  Meriii;;  Island,  for  .somey»'ars  past,  nokillalilebaehehus  have  been  spared, 
and  the  pro]»ortioiiate  iiuinber  of  bulls  is  very  far  below  what  it  has  been  under  the 
ehwest  killiii;; on  St.  I*:'.!'  and  St.  (ieorge.  On  roliidinnoye  (South)  rookery,  iUTiiijf 
Island,  for  example,  tin  r  were  in  ISil.'i  live  bulls,  in  ISOli  three  bulls,  for  between  .")0() 
and  l,(MtO  females.  Vet  this  number,  assisted,  doubtless,  by  immature  bulls,  has  beea 
shown  to  be  entirely  adei|uate  for  the  iiiiprefjiiation  of  all  the  females.  Aeeordinu  to 
Mr.  liarrett-llainilton  of  the  Itritisli  eoinmission,  so  far  as  roiild  be  8e«Mi,  every  cow  on 
this  rookery  had  a  pup  in  IsiMi.  This  observation  wasi'onlirmed  by  Dr.  StejiicKer  and 
Captain  .Moser,  who  visited  the  rookery  at  about  the  same  time. 

DR.  .sTK.tNi;(iKR"s  oltSKKVATIONS. 

In  his  report  for  18J>.'),'  Dr.  Stejnefjer  observes: 

Oil  tli.it  rooki'iy  I  l*<iliiiliniio,v<' I  the  (lispiopoitimi  liotwcKii  tlic  two  honcn  wiis  excrSHivc  in  ISitf). 
According  to  rcliablu  iiit'iiriniilioii,  tln^  iiiiiii!iei'  of  luills  on  the  whole  rookorv  (li<l  not  cxi'i'i'd  livo. 
.tii(l);iiij;  tVoin  wliiit  I  «nw  ol'  Ijiin  rooUiTV  diirlii;;  two  visits,  I  nIhuiM  \t\Mo.  tlu(  niniilier  of  linodiiij; 
feiiiiil»>N  III  about  lUm,  [msHilily  only  ."IMl.-  It  woiiM  Im  ik  r(iin]iai:itiv('ly  easy  matter  to  obfierve  this 
yenr  i  IS'.Mii  whi'tlier  tlie  iiuinber  of  |iu|is  Uoin  be  M-ry  inaiUedIv  small  in  iiroportion  to  the  nnniber  of 
ffuille«  iianlinK  out. 

THK    llKAIMH    UK    MALK    1,11  K    ( >N    ItKlMNO    ISLAND. 

Imm-  the  tiirce  bulls  which  had  charye  of  the  (i(t(>  or  more  cows  on  South  rookery, 
Beriiif,'  Island,  in  ISiK),  Dr,  .Stejiieo-er  found  in  ISi>7.  by  actual  count.  ."iJli  pups. 
Considering!;  the  inoiiortion  of  seals  which  must  have  died  dm  iiij;- the  winter  of  old  aoe, 
and  those  which  were  taken  by  pelajjic  .sealers,  this  birth  rate  shows  clearly  eiiouj^li 
tiit-  /apacity  of  the  tiirce  bulls,  l-'or  this  rookery,  which  in  ISi>7  eoutained  at  least 
5'.Mi  cows,  there  were  but  two  adult  Iniils  and  a  youii^'  half  inill. 

Such  reckless  killing  as  that  practiced  on  the  Commiiiider  rookeries  is  by  no  means 
to  be  comineiidcd  nor  to  be  imitated,  but  in  the  face  of  the  absence  of  injurious  results 
from  it,  it  becomes  impossible  to  cliaroc  ajfainst  the  more  moderate  and  conservative 
killing  of  the  Pribilof  Islands  any  share  of  responsibility  for  the  decline  of  the  lusrd 
breeding  upon  their  shores. 

'  Kussian  Kur  Seal  Islands,  ISlCi,  p,  (ft. 

■'  Dr.  Sto,jne;;er's  estimate  of  ."lOO  lo  (ilH)  cows  was  made  nnder  the  snppo.silion  that  the  cows  seen 
on  the  rookery  represented  pructieiilly  nil  lii'lonj^ing  to  it.  It  waouot  until  ISlKULut  it  wasdiacovured 
that  not  over  hah' the  eows  ari'  present  at  one  time. 


^ 


V  II  A  1*  i'  i:  i{    IX. 

THE  THEORY  OF  OVERDRIVING. 

DRIVING    AND    ITS    SUPPOSED    RESULTS. 

I' rum  the  toreK<>'"}I ''  imist  \w  rli'iir  Unit  laixl  IcilliiiH:  has  lunor  jn'oduwd  a  scarcity 
of  iiiaU"  lite  lor  brccdiiin  purposes,  and  has  not  therolore  been  a  factor  in  the  decline 
of  the  herd.  Tiiia  woidd  naturally  eiul  the  nnitter,  were  it  not  for  tlie  prominence 
whicii  certain  absurd  tlieories  have  received.     These  \vc  nitist  consulcr  in  some  (h'tail. 

It  is  to  .^Ir.  Henry  VV.  I'.ljiott,  wlio  was  sent  in  liSUO  to  investi^rate  the  condition 
of  tlie  fur  seal  herd,  that  we  are  indebted  for  the  theory  that  overdriving:  is  a  cause  of 
injury  to  tin-  herd.  In  ids  report  Mi'.  Klbott  haw  elaborated  tliis  theory  at  p'cat 
lenfjtli.  It  is  plaiidy  not  the  outgrowth  of  his  investifjations.  but  tlu'ir  fjiiiiling 
h\  potiiesis  IVom  the  befjinnin^;  to  the  cud. 

Mr.  Klliott,  inst«'ad  of  scekiii}!  in  the  breediufi  herd  the  cause  of  its  decline, 
impressed  l»y  the  {jieat  diminution  of  the  l)acheior  herds,  conlincd  his  attention  s<dely 
to  them.  Tlie  (!ondition  of  this  class  of  animals  is  onl.\  an  incident  to  the  \\Sv,  of 
the  herd.     The  causes  atVectMiu'  it  necessarily  orijjinate  in  the  brcedinj;  heril. 

lie  found,  what  is  uutloubtcdiy  true  and  has  been  trom  the  first,  tiiat  the  younjj 
nujies  betjau  a  course  of  dri\inu  from  the  haulinjj  fjrounds  to  the  UilliiiK  {>rouiMls  at 
the  age  of  I  year.  They  were  rejected  because  too  sm.dl.  The  following  year  they 
appeared  in  Ww.  drives  ajjain  as  L'year  olds,  and  were  a;;ain  rejected  for  the  same 
reason.  In  the  third  y»'ar  tiicy  were,  so  far  as  driven,  killed.  The  fourth  and 
subseipient  years  found  those  which  escajM'd  as  .'<-year  olds  unsuitabh'  for  killinff  on 
accitnnt  of  tin-  incipient  wiy;,  and  they  were  accordingly  again  rejected,  as  certainly 
as  they  ap|)carcd  in  the  drives. 

This  course  of  driviuf;  resulted,  accordinfj  to  Mr.  Klliott.  in  the  death  of  practically 
all  the  animals  released,  or  else  the  iinpaiinieut  of  virility  in  I  hose  which  survived. 
The  only  recruits  which  the  br<'ediu}j  males  received  therefore  was  an  insif-nilicant 
iMUubcr  of  debilitated  males,  whose  sexinil  powers  were  lost.  In  this  way  the  herd 
had  been  <lestroyed,     This,  in  brief,  is  the  tluvny  of  overdriving. 

THE    PROCESS   OK    DRIVING. 

liCt  us  examiiH'  for  a  moment  ihis  ]u'oiess  of  driviiif"'  and  the  aidnud  which  Inis 
to  under},'o  it.  As  we  know,  very  few  of  the  yearlings  jjct  into  the  drives  till  alter 
till  middle  of  July,  when  the  sealinf*'  season  is  nearly  over;  therefore,  not  many  of 
the  seals  sno  driven  at  this  ajje.  In  the  second  ami  subseiiuent  years  they  (!ome 
rarlier  and  are  driven  more  frci|uciitly.  The  seals  on  each  hauliiifj  pound  are 
gatl'.ered  up  about  six  times  in  a  .season;  but  as  in  ea*;h  drive  new  kiliable  seals 
are  found  which  certainly  have  not  been  driven  before  durinjf  the  sea.son  in  (piestion, 
we  may  assume  iliat  the  n  jected  .seals  tliemsilves  arc  not  all  driven  each  time.  In 
fact,  we  must  as.sume  that  in  the  years  immediately  subseipient  to  ISiK>  the  .seals  of 
the  affe  of  W  years  that  escaped  to  pjrow  up  were  not  driven  at  all;  otherwise  they 
could  not  have  survived. 

ll!ti 


I 


J 


ALLlXIEl)    EVILS  OK   DKIVING. 


127 


las 
Ici- 

HUO, 


In 

of 
ley 


I 


THE   ANIMAL   DRIVEN 

ir  we  suppose  that  rtti.v  rejected  .seal  is  diiveii  lifleeii  times  in  live  years  we 
iiu\e  made  a  liberal  estii;;:ite.  This  means  an  avera;'e  of  !.">  miles  of  land  travel  lor 
(Mcii  animal,  for  the  drives  on  the  islainls  do  not  average  more  than  a  mile  in  len^^th. 
The  seals,  as  we  have  alrea<ly  seen  in  the  description  of  the  drive,  are  aUowetl  to  take 
tlieir  own  time  ami  rest  freipiently  on  the  jonrney.  The  animal,  moreover,  is  not  ill 
adapted  to  land  travel.  It  is  not  a  fish,  lint  a  liear  whl(;li  has  become  adapted  to  life 
in  the  water.  It  can  and  does  vohintarily  elind)  cliffs  which  a  man  would  find 
ditlicnlty  in  stalintf.  It  makes  considerable  journeys  of  its  own  accord.  When  on 
its  balding  grounds,  it  is  constanliy  in  motion,  pitted  aj^ainst  its  fellows  in  contests 
reqnirin};:  violent  exertici.  On  its  mi^ratiinis  it  is  capable  of  swimming  thonsands 
npon  thonsands  of  nnles  and  bnlletinjj;  the  storms  of  an  iinnsually  tempestnons  sea. 
Snch  is  iii«'  animal  which  is  supposed  to  be  fatally,  or  at  least  ]iernninently,  in.inrcd 
by  an  averairc  of  !  miles  of  land  travel  annually  in  live  years.  The  coindusion  is 
jireposterons. 

THE  THEORY  INTANGIBLE. 

When  V, e  ctime  to  scrutinize  Mr.  Klliotfs  theory,  we  can  not  lind  a  tatifiible  bit  of 
cvitb'hce  to  :;upp<ut  it.  I'liere  was  no  dearth  of  bulls  in  I.S'.IO.  He  t'ound  iL'.lMMt  Imlls 
o;i  the  rookeries,  with  imire  to  s]>are  idle  on  the  sand  beaches.  This  was  a  nnndier 
cntiicly  adetpiate  to  the  needs  of  the  herd.  The  presence  of  idle  Imlls  showed  there 
were  more  than  enonp;li.  It  is  true  he  as.serts  that  the  bull."' were  imptdent.  Why 
they  should  .seek  tin'  rookeries  in  this  cuudition  i,>i  not  e.xplaimil.  Furthermore,  .Mr. 
I'.llioft  has  not,  in  support  of  this  «*har}jc  of  impot>Mn  y,  recorded  the  dissection  of  a 
single  animal,  the  only  way  by  \vhi<'h  the  fact  of  impotencv  <ould  be  ascertained. 

Mr.  I'.lliott  declares  that  no  fresh  male  life  e.visted  in  reserve  to  replenish  this 
wornont  stock.  In  the  lace  of  this  statement  he  records.  li<iwe\or.  in  his  data  lor  tlie 
killings  he  witnessed,  the  rejection  of  more  than  l,l(iO  ytHiiifj;  half  Imlls,  which  are 
Just  the  class  he  says  d<tes  not  exist.  He  lays  peat  stress  •  pon  the  strain  and 
exertion  which  the  few  miles  of  land  travel  ji^oduces  in  the  driven  seal,  i.i.d  asserts 
that  practically  none  of  them  suivive  it.  Of  the  thousaiids  lejected  under  his  eyes 
(HI  the  kiilin;;  ;:r.Minds  in  IH<.)0.  he  records  but  a  single  instance  of  death  lesiiltin^' 
from  this  cause,  ,ind  inasninch  as  no  antop.sy  examination  is  reconled.  we  have  (,nly 
hiso])inion  in  the  matter  and  must  dis.sent  from  it. 

When  we  attempt  to  lit  this  theor.\' of  overdrivinj;  tn  i  he  conditions  dnrinjj  the 
period  jirioi  to  I.S'.HI,  we  meet  with  no  yreat  success  That  the  drivinjf  in  tlic.se  years 
did  not  kill  the  '2  and  1  year  old  animals  driven  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  the.se 
seals  ajtpeared  each  year  as  .'Jyearolds  to  be  diiven.  I'r.im  tlic  yonn;;er  males  so 
relea.sed  each  year  and  from  these  alone  <(»nld  the  killable  8,'als  of  sidtseipient  years 
come.  That  the  bul's  serviuit'  the  rookeries  in  these  years  were  not  impotent  is  shown 
by  the  imiiiber  of  yoiinj;  males  which  the  hauling'  uronnds  were  able  to  supply.  The 
tlnmsands  of  yearlim^s  which  he  has  recorded  as  turned  back  from  the  killinj;  fircnmds 
in  isiKt  show  clearly  eiionfih  that  the  bulls  were  not  impotent  in  l.s.ss.  Snbseipiciit 
events  show  as  clearly  tli   '  the  bulls  he  .saw  in  18110  were  i;ot  im]»otent. 

ITS  LOGICAL  CONCLUSION. 

This  contention  as  to  the  elVects  of  overdriving:,  ])ushed  to  its  lojrical  conclusion, 
means  that  animals  are  killed  by  it  which  persist  in  apiH'ariny'  afterwards  distinctly 


^ 


12S 


THK    1  ri{    SKAI.8   OK   THK    PUIUILOF   ISLANDS. 


alive;  others  aro  rfixlered  iiii|H>t4'i)l  wliiult  arc  yut  able  to  till  tliu  rookciies  witli  pups. 
The  wholu  matter  is  too  absurd  lor  serious  eoiisideratioii,  and  ini^ht  be  passctl  by 
with  the  silent  «'onteuipt  it  deserves  were  it  not  lor  the  faet  that  it  was  accepted 
by  the  British  coniinissioiiers  in  l,S!)l  au)l  made  tiiu  chief  foundation  of  the  British 
«-oiitcntion  before  the  Paris  Tribunal  of  Arbitration. 

In  view  of  this  fact,  it  has  seemed  necessary  to  };ivo  more  attention  to  the  theory 
than  it  deserves. 

THE  DRIVES  AND  DRIVEWAYS. 

As  other  elVeets  than  tlutse  contemplated  by  .Mr.  Hlliott's  theory,  for  example,  the 
driving  of  the  animals  away  from  their  breeding;  haunts,  the  stampedinf^  of  the 
breedinf,'  rookeries,  etc.,  have  been  associated  with  the  methods  of  handling  the  seals 
on  land,  it  will  be  useful  for  us  to  consider  the  subject  in  detail  as  it  came  under  our 
observation  durinji  the  |>ast  two  seasons.  We  have  already  given  an  account  of  the 
process  of  drivin;-. 

At  th«'  outset  it  is  well  to  contrast  the  driving  of  the  present  time  with  that  of 
the  past. 

THE  RUSSIAN  DRIVES. 

in  theeaily  Itussian  days  the  drives  were  all  long  and  tedious.  On  Ht.  Paul, 
everything  was  brought  to  the  village,  at  the  extreme  southern  end  of  the  island. 
Thus  the  seals  ironj  Northeast  Poiiit  he  l  to  travel  a  distance  of  about  12  miles;  those 
from  I'oiovina  and  Zapadni,  res|(eetivcly,  5  and  iS  miles.  On  St.  (ieorge  Island  the 
seals  were  driven  over  tlie  rocky  ridge  from  /apadn".  ,t  distance  of  about  (»  miles. 

Days  and  nights  were  occupied  in  these  long  drives.  The  .seals  were  aUowed  to 
take  their  own  time,  resting  freijucntly,  tlui  natives  watching  and  guarding  theni  in 
relays.  Of  the  time  taken  by  the  drives  from  Northeast  l*«»int  in  the  Itussian  days 
we  have  norecttrd,  but  in  tlie  year  1.S.S8,  in  .lanuary,  according  to  the  log  of  St.  Paul 
Island,'  a  food  drive  of  r)()(»  seals  was  made  to  the  village  from  this  point,  and  it 
gives  us  some  iilea  of  what  such  a  drive  meant. 

THE  DRIVE  FROM   NORTHEAST  POINT. 

The  seals  were  driven  in  in  two  sections,  the  tinu'.on  the  road  being,  respectively, 
eighty-two  and  one  hundred  Inmrs.  No  deaths  are  reported  to  have  oe<',urred.  The 
instru<!ti()ns  to  the  men  were  to  b«'  'M-areful  and  go  slow,  if  it  t(»ok  a  week,  and  to  kill 
and  bring  in  all  that  perished  on  the  way."  The  seals  are  reported  as  arriving  in 
good  condition.  Drives  of  sea  lions  have  in  recent  years  also  been  brought  from 
Northeast  Point  to  the  village. 

THE  AMERICAN  DRIVES. 

ruder  American  control  the  long  drives  wore  doiu'  away  with.  Salt  houses  were 
established  at  Northeast  Point,  at  Polovina,  at  Zapadni  of  St.  Paul,  and  one  had 
already  been  established  at  /apadni  of  St.  (leorge  in  IStJS.  The  seals  on  tlie.se 
rookeries  are  to  day  killed  near  the  hauling  grounds,  and  their  skins  are  salted  ami 
cared  for  there.  I'rom  Northeast  Point  the  skins  are  loaded  directly  on  the  vessel. 
I-'rom  Zapadiu  of  St.  (leorge  they  are  packed  across  the  island  by  the  natives  on  their 
backs. 


■I 


'  See  ixtnictH  Iroui  tbo  lojj;,  Pt.  II,  datr  of  .laniuir.v  '.'0. 188S. 


I 


'■•w 


f 


CHARAC'TEK    OK    THE    KKEF    DKIVEWAY. 


121* 


no 
cill 


nv 


I 
I 


.« 


THE  DRIVES  GREATLY  SHORTENED. 

The  (Irivos  liaveb<;eii  still  lurtlu'r  Hliortuiietl  l>y  the  location  of  new  killing  f;roun«ls 
still  nearer  to  the  rookeries,  and  today  the  longest  drive  on  St.  Paul  is  not  over  a 
mile  in  Iciifith,  wliile  several  Jire  less  than  half  a  mile.  On  St.  (ieorjje,  excejit  in  the 
ease  of  Zapadni,  the  drives  are  the  same  as  in  the  old  days,  everything'  liein;;'  brouffht 
to  the  villa^re.  North  rookery,  however,  is  witliin  half  a  mil'}  of  tiie  villa},'e  killing,' 
}jronnd,  an<l  this  is  the  iarnest  of  the  rookeries.  From  Stnraya  Artel  and  from  Kast 
r<iokeries  the  drives  follow  a  course  upward  of  '2\  miles  in  len;;tii  in  opjjosite  directions 
from  the  viUaifo.  On  tliese  driv«'ways  there  are  marshy  i)liiees  and  occasi(»nal  poiids 
of  fresh  water  i?i  which  the  seals  are  allowed  to  cool  oH".  These  drives,  tiierefiue, 
though  lon^,  are  easier  than  shorter  drives  would  be  under  ordinary  c(>nditions. 

REEF  DRIVEWAY. 

Tiie  Keef  drive  on  St.  I'aul,  though  only  about  a  mile  in  len^tii,  is  in  fact  the 
iiardesl  of  the  drives.  It  contains  all  the  dilferent  conditions  to  Ia  met  vith  on  any 
of  the  drives,  and  thercfcae  u  detailed  description  of  its  course  will  answer  for  the  rest. 

li'ecf  drive  begins  at  the  very  point  of  Heef  peninsula.  The  hauliufj;  {jround  of 
Keef  rookeiy  lies  ir  the  rear  of  tlu;  central  ])ortion  of  the  hreediiij^  ground  in  a  hollow 
between  two  rocky  ridjjes.  cuie  dividing;  it  from  the  rookery  itself  and  the  other 
leadint;'  up  to  the  tiat  {iround  of  the  "jtarade  ground."  The  hauliiiff  fjn.uiul  has 
four  runwiiys  connecting  it  with  the  .sea.  I'rom  the  heails  of  these  runways  and 
from  the  central  |)ortioii  of  the  hauling  ground  the  straggling  bands  of  bachelors  are 
gathered  up  ami  driven  to  the  Hat  of  the  parnde  ground  above.  Here  on  the  level 
the  ditVerent  groups  are  united  in  one  great  j)od. 

THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  RO'  TE. 

After  the  drive  is  formed  tlie  lint  !•<>  yards  of  Its  course  lies  over  practically  level 
gnmnd,  sloping  very  gradually  toward  tlie  east,  the  direction  to  i>e  taken.  Toward 
the  end  of  this  (irst  .section  the  ground  iKMomes  strewn  with  large  itowlders.  sutli- 
ciently  far  a|)art.  iiowever.  to  otter  no  obstructions  to  the  seals. 

The  ■••ourse  then  leads  out  into  a  level,  grassy  phiin,  ."32.")  yards  in  length,  with  a 
scarcely  perceptible  sh>|)e  to  the  east.  The  grwuml  is  level,  fre^  from  stones,  and  tlie 
damp  seal  grass  makes  going  easy.  In  this  plain  the  larger  drove  of  seals  is  nsnally 
divided  into  two  smaller  ones  for  convenience  in  driving. 

Beyond  the  grassy  I liain  is  a  bowlder  covered  area,  the  rocks  imi»ethled  in  the 
soil,  flat  and  worn  smooth.  This  area  was  (Mice  hanling  ground.  |»ei-lia)»s  bree'iing 
teriitory  in  tiie  jialmy  days  of  the  herd,  lietween  the  stones  are  patciits  of  yellow 
seal  grass.  At  tin*  ridge,  about  midway  in  this  rocky  .stretch,  the  course  is  narrowed 
by  piles  of  rocks,  traces  of  the  original  dit!'  which  formed  the  ridge.  In  this 
narrowed  pas.sage  there  is  a  tendency  to  crowd,  due  to  the  desire  of  il»*»  .seals  to  go 
in  a  nuiss  wherever  they  go.    The  whole  length  of  I  his  rocky  area  is  about  -'(lii  yar<l*«. 

l''rom  the  rocks  tiuMlrivevva.v  leadsupa  gentle  sand  slo|)e  lo  a  |i!aiii  lying  between 
two  rows  of  grass-grown  sand  dunes.     This  plain  is  too  yards  in  length  ami  furnishe.s 
veiy  easy  going  f(H'  the  seals.     Its  surface  is  covered   with  a  heav    growth  of  rye 
grass,  which  is  always  wet  with  rain  or  dew,  and  serves  to  cool  off  ti-  seals. 
l.-,l,SI <) 


9 


130 


THE   FUK  SEALS   OF   THE   PRIBILOF  ISLANDS. 


At  (hi!  cud  ()(■  tlu'  griissy  plain  tlio  course  drops  downovcrasiiorl  ItMlgc  ol"  rocks, 
suinc  .1  Icct  ill  lH'ij;lit,  to  n  bowlder  covered  areii  of  about  2(H»  yards  in  extent.  This 
ai'cii  at  tirst  level  falls  in  a  gentle  slope  at  the  end  to  the  level  of  Zoltoi  sands.  The 
bowhlers  are  large,  smooth,  and  Hat,  and  tlie  interspaces  are  tilled  with  lava  sand. 

Aloiijj  the  4(M>  yards  of  level  sand  beach  is  the  hardest  part  of  the  drive.  The 
seals  slip  and  sink  in  the  loose  sand.  They  do  not  niiiid  the  rocky  and  grass  grown 
areas,  but  the  sand  worries  theui.  This  sandy  area  leads  by  a  narrow  passage,  lined 
on  eith<-r  side  by  sand  dunes,  to  the  grassy  plain  between  Kast  Landiug  and  the  little 
pond  at  the  foot  of  the  village.    This  is  the  village  killing  ground. 

THE  LENGTH  OF  THE  DRIVE. 

The  total  length  of  Ifeef  drive  as  paced  otV  is  about  r»,t».'il  feet.  Its  greatest 
elevation  is  not  over  7."i  feet,  and  the  slopes  are  very  gentle.  The  drive  is  usually 
made  in  about  two  hours.  In  the  preceding  pages  is  given  a  detailed  a<count  of  a 
drive  over  this  course  witnessed  on  -Inly  ir». 

On  none  of  the  other  drives  of  I'riltilof  Islands  are  there  rocky  areas  such  as 
those  described  on  the  Reef.  On  Tolstoi  and  Middle  Mill  are  short  stretches  of  sand, 
but  they  are  of  limited  extent.  With  these  exceptions,  the  driveways  on  St.  I'aul 
are  comparatively  level  and  jiiassy  tliroiiglioiit.  Tlu'  saiiu  is  true  fi»r  the  long  drives 
of  St.  (ieorge. 

COMPARISON  OF  DRIVES. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  contrast  this  drive  from  Keef,  the  longest  and  hardest  on 
St.  Paul  Island,  though  less  than  a  mile  in  length,  with  the  lli  miles  which  the  seals 
were  forced  ti>  travel  from  Northciist  I'oint  in  Itu.ssian  times,  or  with  the  .'»  and  (imiles 
of  travel  from  Zapadni  aj>*i  I'olovina  of  St.  I'anl,  and  Zapadni  of  St.  deorge.  That 
no  injury  resulted  to  th«-  seals  from  these  early  drives  is  clear  from  the  condition  ia 
which  the  herd  was  wli«i  it  came  into  the  poss<?ssioii  of  the  United  States. 

THE  COMMANDER  DRIVEWAYS. 

To  appreciate  tiic  ease  of  the  I'ribilof  Islands  drives  it  is  only  necessary  to 
contrast  I'lcm  with  those  ol  the  C'ommandti  Islands.  The  following  descii|)tioii  of 
the  rlriveways  i;f  Medni  Island  is  t| noted  from  Dr.  Jordan's  record  in  the  .Journal  tor 
Au^ustlir).  ISIMJ: 

/iipail)!!  i/ririirwt/.— rii«-  4rivr  (Voin  /a|i!i(llii  j;ot'H  up  IVoiii  the  stony  liciich  lietwccii  two  towers  of 
rmUH.  iliiiiliiiifi  tlie  soiyf  ot  J  littlr  brmil^  wliiili  ciitH  into  llif  liowldcrs  niid  clay  of  the  liillsitln.  iiii 
r\c('S!<ivi'ly  li:ii<l.  ii>Mi;li  littlf  iinllv.  very  tliDiiiilt  lor  !i  iimii  to  rlinil).  tiiero  lieiiij;  siiiiill  oas.  ihIcs  anil 
« tM  clay  ill  its  rc>iii>i  .  Tht'  « ay  is  iimrkcd  l>y  mail  skoletoiis.  AI'tiT  an  astcut  over  ^uroiiiKl  ol'  this  sort 
lor  :>(Mi  iir  lim  fi'i't.  more  or  less,  tlii'  (lrivt<  not  »  ii|i  through  stit'|i,  grassy  sh.|ies.  some  ot'  them  of  i.ol't 
clay,  »oiM«'vvliai  iiit  into  roiigli  steps  li,\  iii(mi>;  lioots.  'I'lir  neneral  <  liiirartiii  of  tin-  t;roiiiiil  is  iinrc- 
lit'vril.  ulthnii;;h  mole  or  less  lirolvcii  liy  cro.ss  Knllius  uutl  rulers.  The  linal  riilgo  is  "(iO  feet  above  the 
sra.  On  till'  (iliiiUa  siilf  i>  ;i  Ion;;  8lo|u'.  at  lirst  i|niti'  i«tee|i,  evrrywhrre  grassy,  anil  rather  e;isy,  lint 
markril  with  mail  skeh'tiius.  as  it  is  very  loii^.  Thi'  rye  {{iubs  ;;rows  rathir  longer  helow.  anil  a  littlr 
Htii'.'iiii  has  ilicp  ili'iiressions,  whnli  serve  as  ili-ath  trups,  as  thr  skeletons  show,  when  the  seals  i'all 
in  pile-  one  over  another.  .Miove  iJliiika  is  a  steep  slide  ol'yellou  clay,  from  wliieh  the  village  is  said 
to  have  reeeived  its  name.  TluH  slide  must  lie  a  hard  jilaue  tor  the  Heala.  I'he  seals  (tew  in  niimher) 
that  are  released  lieeaiise  loo  young  or  too  old  .ire  allowed  to  go  down  to  the  >ea,  wheiiie  they  go  haek 
to  the  west  again. 


Till".    I'ALATA    IMilVKWAV. 


131 


<!g«'  or  rocks, 
uxteiit.  This 
i  saiuls.  The 
hiva  sand. 
I  drive.  The, 
grass  grown 
»i»ssag»',  lined 
and  the  lirric 


Its  H;reiitost 
X'  is  iisiially 
arcount  of  a 

reus  such  as 

ihes  of  saud, 

on  St.  I»aiil 

'  loM;^«irives 


1  liardest  on 
it'll  the  seals 
•  and  (t  miles 
*orge.  That 
condition  in 


lecessary  to 

sci'iption  of 

I<uirual  lor 


.wo  towers  of 
II'  liillsiile.  an 
<•  'lies  and 
itl  ol' tliis  sort 
litiui  of  soft 
oiiiid  is  iiiirc- 
>cl  ;ibo\  o  tlu) 
Iht  tMsy,  Imt 
:M1(1  ii  little 
the  Noals  fall 
illa);o  in  saiil 
V  ill  iiuiiilier) 
tlit'v  yd  liark 


1 


I'ltliila  <liiriiviiy.—T\u-  drivx-  IVuiii  I'liliita  is  luiw  rari>ly  iiiutio,  uh  tlm  oi'aU  htivu  ^ro\vll  so  low. 
'I'lii-.v  an'  killetl  all  aloii;;  the  lieacli,  ami  tlin  iiiyriadH  of  IlieH  alioiit  tln'  dci'aviiijj  cannsscs  iniint  lit-  llin 
soiirri'  of  ;;n'at  aiinovaiu'c  to  the  lirt'cdliijr  suals.  Thr  drive  asreiids  from  the  |i:irade  yroiiiid  cm  the 
top  ol'  Ihe  laiidsiide.  This  wuh  formeil.v  oei'ii|iii'd  hy  haihelors.  lint  there  are  no  sipiirate  droves  of 
liaeheliiis  now.  They  are  scattered  in  little  rlnin)iH  alioiit  and  liel  ween  the  rooUorie>,  'I'lie  drive  then 
for  aliimt  KKI  feet  asi'eiid>  a  ^rasHy  clitV  mi  Nli'e|i  that  steps  lia\  u  lieeii  dii^  in  it  to  faeilitate  elimliiii)t. 
Then  lollows  some  "IXt  feel  ol  irroKula.-  hut  M'ry  Hteep  slope,  in  which  the  ciinicst  dc|ircs>ions  arc 
NiiiiKlit.  though  Ihe  hill  Is  everywhere  about  hn  steep  as  a  man  can  elimli,  and  one  w  ho  himh  n|>  it  miiHt 
cling  to  the  grasH.  Above  this  Hlupe  the  drive  reaches  the  back  of  Ihe  knife-like  ridge  that  separates 
I'alata  I'mm  /.apalata.  This  widens  out  into  an  easy,  level  plateau  for  about  L'O  rods,  marked  with 
road  skeletons.  I'he  elevation  is  alioul  s.'iii  (ect  by  IM.  Sle.jneger's  map.  I'lieii  lnllo»s  a  Hteep  climb 
lui  gravel  and  clay,  with  scanty  grass  and  heather,  worn  into  steps,  the  driveway  bounded  (in  the 
Miiitli»est  by  a  sl.inting  precipice  that  lies  above  Sabatcha  Dira.  A  sleep  shoulder  nl  lie.ither  and 
small  plants  i-  lollowed  by  a  lin.il  e|imli  into  the  clouds  to  the  siiminit  of  the  pass,  I.JL'U  I'eet  above 
the  Mca.  From  the  summit  an  abrupt  descent  leadn  down  a  distame  of  about  .MNl  feet  by  a  zig/ag 
trail  as  steep  as  a  horse  coiihl  pass  over,  strewn  with  gravel  and  coveri'd  with  low  llowers,  to  the  bed 
of  a  swift  little  brcnk.  This  stream  Mows  duwii  into  a  grassy  basin,  the  slopeo  becoming  Iphm  and  less 
steep,  the  rye  gia»  and  piilchki  growing  lalliT.  At  the  junction  of  this  slreain.  Ilowing  into  the  little 
liiook  from  the  west,  the  drive  merges  into  the  one  lV<iiii  /.ajiadiii.  Ihe  drive  from  I'alata  is  not  in 
any  pl.'ice  so  ililbcnlt  as  the  gully  .just  above  /apadiii.  but  it  is  half  liigher  and  twice  as  long,  a  trip 
one  eoiild  not  take  on  horseback,  nor  would  it  be  easy  to  load  a  horse  over  it.  Coniparing  it  with 
oiiditions  on  SI.  I'aiil,  the  I'alata  Pans  is  as  steep  as  the  cone  of  Itogoslof,  twice  as  high,  and  is 
uithuut  water.  Compared  with  the  severest  drive  on  .St.  I'anl,  it  would  Ntand  as  the  ascent  of  .Mount 
Blane  to  a  walk  in  the  park.  It  in  n  very  fatiguing  trip  for  a  man.  It  took  ine,  walking  rapidly, 
thirty  eiyht  minutes  I'deilm  ting  stops)  from  I'alata  to  the  grassy  level.  MtlO  fei't ;  thence  twenty-eiglit 
miliutus  to  the  top,  I.:.''.'!)  feet :  liftren  minutes  down  the  upper  slope,  and  lifteen  iiiciie  to  lilinka. 

NO  EVIL  RESULTS  FROM  THESE  DRIVES. 

.\iul  yet,  iiotwitiistamliiij;  tlie  severity  of  the  drives  of  thi^  (Joiiiniander  Islands, 
no  liarni  has  resulted  to  the  breeding  herds  of  these  islands  \vhi;!h  can  be  traced  to 
this  cause. 

CARE  EXERCISED  IN  DRIVING 

Many  drives  were  witnessed  during  the  past  two  siiiniiiers  on  St.  I'anI  island. 
In  connection  with  none  of  them  was  .seen  warrant  for  the  harrowing  tales  of  uniunds 
dying  of  exliaiistion  and  fright  by  the  wayside  or  smothering  uinler  the  feet  of 
tlieir  terrilied  coinpaiiions.  In  the  drive  of  .Inly  1;"».  numbering  1, .">(»(»  seals,  from  the 
Heel  not  a  seal  fell  by  the  way  or  siiowed  signs  of  dangerous  exhaustion.  Many 
were  plainly  fatigued  by  tiie  journey,  anil  when  allowed  to  rest  sprawled  out  panting 
on  the  ground.  Mat  after  resting,  when  the  drive  was  ready  to  move  (ui.  they  were 
ready  and  able  to  go  with  it. 

THE  FUR  SEAL  NOT  ILL  ADAPTED  TO  LAND  TRAVEL. 

Tiic  fur  seal's  only  ditliculty  in  land  traveling  is  the  inconvenience  <iccasioiu'd  by 
its  thick  blanket  of  blubber.  In  the  water  and  in  a  moist  cool  atmo.s|iliefc  this  does 
not  trouble  it.  IJiit  under  the  action  of  dry  hot  air  it  experieiu^es  great  dillieiilty  in 
making  the  least  exertion.  Combined  with  all  this  is  the  fact  that  the  great  oar  like 
feet  of  the  seal  make  it  clumsy,  and  undoubtedly  its  muscles  become  tired  t|iiickly 
under  the  unwonted  exercise  of  walking  iiisteu*!  of  swimming. 

When  a  seal  bt'comes  exhausted  and  is  iinnbh^  to  continue  the  journey  it  is  killed 
on  the  spot.     This  is  in)t  becitiise  the  animal  is  necessarily  |ierinanently  injured,     if 


w^ 


\:.- 


132 


THE    FL-H    SKALS   OF    THE   rUlBILOr    ISLANDS. 


left  to  UH'oviT  it  would  tloiibtluHs  iiiiike  itH  way  to  the  sen.  lint  to  save  time  and 
avoid  possible  lo.ss  of  tlie  .skin  the  animal  is  at  once  killed  and  skinned,  the  pelt 
beiiijj  brought  in  by  the  drivers.  These  skins  are  ealled  "ntad"  skins  and  the 
••arcasses  left  to  i)e  eaten  by  the  foxes  .soon  become  the  '•  road  skeletons"  of  which  .so 
much  has  been  said. 

THE  "CARCASS-STREWN"  DRIVEWAYS. 

So  much  had  been  .said  about  the  earca.ss  strewn  driveways  that  it  seemed  worth 
while  to  verify  or  disprove  the  matter  by  personal  (d>servati(ni.  .Accordiiiyly,  after 
the  killing  season  of  l.S!>6  was  over,  each  ami  every  one  of  the  driveways  of  St.  I'aul 
Islaiul  were  tiaverse«l  and  eh)sely  inspected.  Two  skeh'loiis  were  found  on  the  Keef; 
two  others  were  found  in  the  course  of  a  small  food  dri\e,  brou^'ht  over  from  Lukanin 
to  the  salthou.se  at  the  foot  of  the  cove.  This  latter  drive  was  evidently  carelessly 
made,  as  its  siiudi  si/e  and  the  short  distance  made  any  casualties  unmH-es.sary.  The 
deaths  on  Iteef  driveway  each  occurred  on  separate  drives,  and  lu'ither  occurred  on 
the  drive  wittiessed  on  July  !">.  On  mnie  of  the  other  driveways  were  skeletons 
found.  Scattered  bones  were  found  here  and  there,  but  these  were  common  to  all 
parts  of  the  islands  iu  the  vicinity  of  killing  grounds,  having  been  carried  away  by 
the  foxes.  Tour  deaths  are  therefore  known  to  have  occurred  on  the  drives  of 
St.  I'aid  Island  during  the  season  of  l.S'.Mi,  which  aggregated  L'4,0(H)  ainmals  killed, 
besides  many  driven  up  but  rejected  as  of  unsuitable  age.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  in 
the  handling  of  no  similar  body  of  animals,  of  no  nuitter  what  kind,  would  a  Binaller 
percentage  of  deaths  by  accident  occur.  .Moreover  in  the  few  eases  involved  the 
animals  were  at  once  relieved  from  sutVering.  and  their  skins  were  saved. 

FATALITIES  ON  THE  DRIVES. 

During  the  season  of  1M1>7  a  much  greater  proportion  of  accidents  occurred  on 
tlu'  drives,  the  number  of  seals  dying  probably  reaching  a  total  of  25  out  of  about 
liO,(MM).  This  was  (hie  in  large  measure  to  the  unfavorable  weather  of  this  sea.scm. 
At  times  the  sun  came  out  warm  and  occasioned  considerable  sutVering  among  the 
animals  driven.  In  the  books  of  the  islands  is  kept  a  record  of  the  skins  of  animals 
dying  on  the  drives.  The  list  is  a  small  (»ne.  Of  the  21,<HM»  seals  killed  on  the  two 
islands  in  the  year  18!M>,  only  11  are  reconled  as  dying  by  the  wayside.  This 
miueover  is  the  year  ami  the  driving  on  which  Mr.  Klliott  has  based  his  theory  of 
the  evil  et1c(!ts  of  overdriving. 

INJURIF"  TO  BACHELORS  COULD  NOT  AFFECT  THE  HERD. 

liut  even  if  the  lUiig  males  were  driven  to  death  on  the  driveways  it  would  not 
aftect  the  herd  of  fur  seals  any  more  than  the  slaughter  of  steers  would  alVect  a  herd 
of  cattle.  It  would  be  cruel  ami  inhiunan  to  dt>  it,  but  the  resjjonsibility  would  rest 
with  the  person  doing  the  driving,  and  the  evil  etfect  wouhl  end  with  the  life  of  the 
animal  so  tortured.  If  the  animal  as  a  result  of  the  oi'dea!  of  driving  goes  back 
weakened  in  physical  strength  and  vigor,  it  either  recovers  from  such  injury  or  dies,  if 
not  at  once,  then  in  the  next  migration.  No  seal  physically  injured  in  any  serious 
inaniuM"  survives  the  harsh  sifting  process  of  tin',  northern  winter,  which  .sends  back 
only  those  i)erfect  in  every  way  and  lit  to  survive.  We  nuiy  therefiue  assume  that 
if  a  seal  returns  t(»  the  haiding  grounds  the  next  si»riug,  he  has  fully  recovered  ami  is 
physically  able  to  repeat  his  experiences. 


1 


DKIVINO   NOT   A    I'ACTOK    IN    THK   DECLINE. 


133 


THE  IMPOSSIBILITY  OF  SEXUAL  INJURY. 

There  remains,  tlieii,  but  (tue  furtlier  poiut,  namely,  tb  J  possibility  of  the  male 
seal  Itecctinintj  sexually  iiijured  as  a  result  of  iliiving  while  .s  ill  letaiiiing  his  physical 
vigor.  The  orKana  t»f  ^feneration  in  the  nuile  fur  seal  are  i.-anied  like  those  ol  the 
dog  or  similar  animals,  and  owing  to  the  peeiiliar  chaiiK-ter  ot  the  hiud  legs  ot  the 
seal  they  appear  to  be  iu  an  exjtOHed  and  dangerous  position.  It  would  seem  as 
if  tlie  testes  must  eome  in  actual  tuintaet  with  the  grountl  when  the  animal  is  in 
motion.  A  hasty  observation  might  lead  to  the  supposition  that  to  tbree  an  aninml 
in  this  condition  to  travel  several  miles  over  rocks  and  stones  would  prmluce  direct 
injury  to  these  organs.  Whether  or  not  this  is  the  .source  of  Mr.  Klliott's  theory  of 
the  im|)airment  of  the  virility  of  the  bulls  througl  (tverdriving  we  do  not  know,  but 
if  this  did  not  suggest  the  theory  it  is  hard  t(t  understand  what  did. 

VOLUNTARY  MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  MALES. 

The  violent  voluntary  movements  of  the  adult  bulls  on  the  rocky  tloors  of  their 
l)reeding  grounds  would  besutticient  answer  to  this  contention.  No  etVorts  required 
of  the  seals  on  the  drives  are  any  harder  than  tho.se  they  undergo  of  their  own 
accord.  But  witlnmt  relying  upon  this,  the  investigations  of  the  past  two  seasons 
show  that  the  testes  of  the  male  seal  are  under  direct  contrid  of  the  animal,  and  when 
he  is  in  motion  are  drawn  up  into  the  binly,  where  they  are  absolutely  protected.' 
Thus  there  is  no  jtossibility  for  direct  injury  to  the  generative  organs  of  the  nude 
from  driving. 

DRIVING  NOT  A  FACTOR  IN  THE  DECLINE. 

Therefore,  after  a  full  consideratiiui  of  the  subject  of  driving  in  all  its  bearings, 
we  are  inevitably  brought  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  not  and  has  not  been  a  factor 
in  the  decline  of  the  herd.  It  would  be  possible  under  thoughtless  or  unfeeling 
numagement  to  make  the  operation  the  source  of  great  physical  suffering  to  the 
aninuils  concerned,  and  the  driving  slumld  be,  as  it  e\  idently  is,  always  under  hunumc 
and  intelligent  supervision.  The  interests  of  the  herd,  however,  are  not  concerned 
ill  the  pre8en«'e  or  absence  of  such  care.  The  treatment  of  the  bachelors  on  the  drives 
and  killing  grounds  of  St.  I'aul  Island  no  more  affects  the  breeding  rookeries  than 
would  iuhumaii  treatment  of  horses  on  the  street-car  lines  of  8an  l-'rancisc-o  attect  the 
breeding  herd  of  the  I'alo  Alto  stock  farm. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  consider  certain  alleged  sources  of  injury  t<t  the 
herd  through  stampedes  occasioned  by  fright  on  the  rookeries  <m'  tiirougii  raids  by 
seal  poachers.  These  and  many  other  more  or  less  imaginary  cau.scs  of  injury  to 
the  herd  were  used  to  support  and  strengthen  the  main  contention  of  the  Hritish 
case  before  the  Paris  Arbitration  that  land  killing  was  the  cause  of  decline.  Hut 
these  causes,  if  they  ever  actually  t'xisted,  could  produce  only  temporary  results,  as 
they  were  themselves  necessarily  temporary  in  their  nature  and  action.  The  decline 
of  the  herd,  to  whatever  it  may  be  due,  has  been  constant,  and  for  it  must  lie  sought 
a  permanent  cause. 

'  See  oli.sorv.itiiiiis  in  tlir  ll:iil.\  .l(iiiril:il  iiiidiT  il;il<i  id'  ilitiiixr  11  ,iimI  111.  lS!t7. 


wrr- 


<•  II  A  I'T  K  l(    X. 

ALLEGED  POSSIBLE  CHANGE  OF  HABITS. 

MIGRATION   TO   COMMANDER   ISLANDS. 

It  limy  1)0  W()itli  wliilo  lieiv  to  note  certaiii  HupposeU  possihl*'  rliniit;«'s  of  lial)its 
on  tlu;  part  of  tliv  tiir  seals  as  a  rt'Hiilt  of  tin*  iiitiMioreiice  of  man.  Miu-li  lias  liei'ii 
said  at  tlit*  I'aiis  Tiiltiinal  ami  «'ls«-\vli<>fv  itf^'anling  tlie  dangt>r  of  driving  tint  seals 
from  tlieir  haunts  on  tlic  I'ribilof  Ishuids  to  seek  other  shorca.  There  is  no  such 
possibility. 

It  has  been  a  tradition  in  the  Iiistory  of  the  fur  seals  that  the  (\)iiiiiiaiider  Islands 
were  originally  occupied  by  seals  which  had  abandoned  the  I'ribihif  Islands.  This 
tradition  has  not  the  slighest  fonndation.  Doubtless  all  came  centuries  ago  from  one 
parent  stock,  but  as  the  two  herds  exist  to-day  they  are  distinct  races  or  species  and 
do  not  intermingle  in  any  way.  Notwithstanding  this,  it  has  within  recent  times  been 
thought  possible  that  under  exce))ti<mal  circumstances  we  might  expect  an  exodus  of 
seals  from  the  Tribilof  Islands  to  the  liussian  islands.  Kven  so  late  as  the  present 
year  it  has  been  asserted  that  I'ribilof  seals  were  taken  on  the  Asiatic  side,  the 
alleged  cause  of  their  going  there  being  the  fact  that  they  had  been  branded  on  their 
native  rookeries.  These  stories  are  all  very  absurd  and  rest  upon  no  basis  of  fa(!t  or 
knowledge,  but,  in  view  of  the  jtersisteiicy  with  which  they  have  been  urged,  it  will 
not  be  out  of  ])hice  to  consider  the  habits  of  the  animals  in  the  light  of  such  possil)lc 
results. 

THE    FIXED   HABITS   OF   THE   SEALS. 

The  liai)its  of  the  fur  seal  are  strongly  fixeil.  From  the  natural  ruth'^'ss 
destruction  of  all  seals  in  which  the  geographical  instinct  or  the  instincts  of  feeding 
and  rcprodut'tioii  are  defective  results  the  extreme  perfection  of  the  few  instiucts 
which  the  animal  possesses.  The  life  processes  of  the  fur  seal  are  as  perfect  as 
clockwork,  but  its  grade  of  intelligence  is  low.  Its  range  of  choice  in  action  is  very 
slight,  it  is  a  wonderful  automaton,  and  the  stress  of  the  migrations  will  always 
keep  it  so. 

THE   SEALS    LOW   INTELLIGENCE. 

JJy  i.it(!llect  or  intelligeuce  in  this  sense  is  meant  the  power  to  choose  among 
ditl'erent  possible  c<mrses  of  action.  External  intiiiences  and  internal  impulses 
produce  certain  imi>ressioiis  «m  the  nervous  system  of  the  animal.  By  the  automatic 
instinct  the  respon.sc  which  follows  is  directly  related  to  the  cause,  and  there  is  no 
choice  among  responses.  So  mu(;h  intiueiice,  so  much  rebound,  liy  the  oiterations 
of  instinct  each  indi\idual  in  given  conditions  will  act  just  as  any  other  individual 
will.  Intellect,  however,  inijilies  individuality.  One  animal  will  choose  to  do  this, 
another  that,  adapting  action  to  certain  needs  and  circumstances.  A  fur  seal  will  do 
what  its  ancestors  have  had  to  do  to  perfection.  If  he  is  fonted  to  do  anything  else 
he  is  daiced  and  stupid. 

134 


I 

4 


EFFKCT8  OF  CONTACT  WITH  MAN. 


13: 


Ah  11  irsult  of  nil  tliis  tlic  luibitH  ol'  the  fur  sual  are  llxed  uimI  iiiiiuutablf.  Nu 
bettor  illustration  of  this  can  be  cited  than  the  fact  tha*  after  having  i)eeii  driven 
from  their  hauling;  ^Tound,  culled  ever,  and  subjecte«l  to  the  excitenient  of  the  killin;- 
irrounds,  bachelors  have  been  known  to  return  <|uiotly  and  take  up  their  places  on 
these  sanu'  haulini;  grounds  as  if  itothiiig  had  happened.  During  the  past  two 
seasons  seals  have  been  repeatedly  watched  as  they  were  released  from  the  killing 
ground  at  the  village,  swim  away  directly  through  Zoltoi  liay,  round  K'eef  I'oint,  and 
haul  out  on  the  hauling  groumi  of  Keef  rookery  from  which  they  Inul  been  driven 
perhaps  three  hours  before.  And  this  thing  ;ioes  on  throughout  the  season  and  has 
been  going  on  for  half  a  century.  The  .seals  have  no  reuKMubrance  of  past  events. 
Once  in  the  water  they  are  solely  governed  by  the  instinct  which  leads  them  to  haul 
out  at  the  particular  point  where  tiu'y  are  aceustonu'd  to  rest.  That  they  have  been 
HO  recently  disturbed  there  is  merely  an  iiiciilent  of  whi«-h  they  remember  nothing. 

CONTACT  WITH  MAN   HAS  HAD  NO  EFFECT. 

The  fur  seals  on  tlu^  Pribilof  Islands  have  been  constantly  in  contact  with  men 
during  more  than  a  century.  At  times,  in  its  early  history,  the  herd  has  come  near 
annihilation  as  a  result  of  man's  rapacity  and  improvidence.  Hut  neither  this  nor  the 
more  systematic  and  reascuaible  treatnuMit  which  has  been  accorded  them  in  recent 
years  has  affected  in  the  least  the  habits  of  the  aninnds.  8o  far  as  we  know,  the  fur 
seals  of  a  century  and  a  half  ago  did  exactly  what  their  descendants  of  today  are 
doing.  There  is  nothing  in  present  conditions  nor  in  the  coinlitions  of  the  past  to 
warrant  the  assum)ttion  that  in  the  future  they  will  cea.se  to  do  the  same  thing. 

At  the  ai)])roauh  of  winter  they  depart  on  their  ndgrations.  With  the  returning 
spring  they  unfailingly  arrive  class  by  class  antl  go  through  the  riuitine  of  their  daily 
life.  There  is  no  evidence  that  any  phase  of  their  life  a<-tivity  has  changed  since  num 
found  them.  None  have  been  found  to  .seek  other  shores.  It  is  probably  not  po.ssible 
tor  man  to  drive  them  from  their  breeding  haunts.  Their  rookeries  are  their  home, 
and  to  them  they  will  return  so  long  as  they  live. 

ALTERATION  OF  CONDITIONS. 

Some  slight  alteration  in  the  ccuiditions  of  life  among  the  fur  .seals  have  neces- 
sarily resulted  from  the  interference  of  man.  Land  killing  has  le.s.sened  the  number 
of  bulls,  reducing  their  turbulence,  in  the  natural  .state  of  the  animals,  when  the 
adidt  males  were  practically  equal  in  number  to  the  females  tb'?  lighting  among 
them  must  have  been  something  territic.  Today,  when  the  adult  bulls  are  oidy  about 
one  thirtieth  of  the  number  of  females,  the  anxuint  of  tighting  indulged  in  is  snttitMent 
to  show  that  the  male  fur  seal  has  lost  none  of  his  belligerent  qualities. 

THE  BACHELORS  OF  BERING  ISLAND. 

From  the  excessively  close  killing  of  the  males  on  the  Russian  islands,  a  curious 
result  has  been  brought  about.  On  North  rookery  of  Hering  Island,  for  a  number  of 
years,  every  male  that  could  be  tbund  had  b«'en  killed.  As  a  result,  there  were  in 
1895  uot  njore  than  6  adult  bulls  to  a  herd  of  about  1,000  breeiling  females.  On  this 
rookery  the  bachelors  were  ibund  to  occupy  jtlaces  among  the  breeding  seals  insteatl 
of  hauling  by  them. selves,  as  uiuler  normal  conditions.  In  this,  however,  we  are  not 
to  assume  a  change  of  habit.     It  is  the  instinct  of  the  nnile  to  .seek  the  breeding 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.25 


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Ao    12.0 


2.5 
2.2 


ill 


1.4 


1.6 


fa 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

CorpoKition 


93  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

MIBSTIR.N.Y.  145S0 

(716)  •72-4503 


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13<) 


THE    FIR    «KALS    OF    THE    PKIIilLOF    ISLANDS. 


ground.  On  his  return  as  a  yearling  force  of  babit  draws  bini  there.  As  be  grows 
older  sexual  instinct  exerts  its  inliuence.  Eventually,  if  be  is  not  killed,  be  arrives 
at  tbe  age  when  bis  streugtb  enables  bini  to  win  a  place  and  rule  a  liareiu  of  bis  own. 
It  may  therefore  be  said  that  the  natural  habit  of  tbe  bachelor  is  to  get  on  the 
breeding  ground  or  as  near  it  as  possible,  tbe  fear  of  the  bull  alone  keeping  him 
away.  And  he  has  good  reason  to  stand  in  dread  of  tbe  harem  master.  At  the  close 
of  the  breeding  season,  as  soon  as  the  old  males  go  away  to  feed,  the  bachelors  scatter 
over  the  rookeries  and  enjoy  their  new  found  freedom  until  the  bulls  return.  If  the 
bulls  were  iillowed  to  increase  on  llering  Island,  they  would  certainly  drive  out  tbe 
bachelors  and  restore  ti:C  normal  conditions. 

ARBITRARY  SELECTION  OF  MALES. 

There  is  not  the  sl'gbtest  evidence  that  tbe  race  of  fur  seals  as  a  whole  IJas  been 
in  any  way  affected  by  the  arbitrary  seleciion  of  males  for  killing.  Only  strong, 
vigorous  males  can  maintain  themselves  on  tbe  rookeries,  and  those  allowed  to  live 
are  neither  more  nor  less  vigorous  than  the  others  would  have  been. 

Effects  resulting  from  variations  in  the  character  of  tbe  breeding  males  can  not 
be  great,  and  would  not,  if  they  existed,  make  their  appearances  for  many  generations, 
perhaps  not  for  centuries.  Careful  supervision  might  possibly  make  effective  artificial 
selection  of  males,  and  such  experiments,  whetLer  leading  to  ])ractical  results  or  not, 
are  worth  trying.  But  wliatever  may  be  done  in  tbe  future,  it  is  certain  that  the 
character  of  the  herd  has  not  been  changed  by  the  action  of  man  in  removing  its 
superfluous  male  life. 

It  must  be  remembered,  in  this  connection,  that  a  strong  selective  influence  is 
exercised  by  the  migrations  in  tbe  sea.  Only  the  vigorous  members  of  the  herd 
survive  the  experience  of  winter.  Xo  decrepit  individuals  have  been  known  to  come 
back  in  tbe  spring.  The  rough  sea  of  the  north  tells  no  tales,  and  it  sends  back  to 
the  islands  only  those  fit  to  survive. 

THE    EFFECT   OF   DECLINE. 

The  decline  which  the  fur-seal  herd  has  suffered  within  tbe  past  decade  has  so 
diminished  its  stock  of  breeding  females  that  the  rookeries  have  contracted  in  area 
and  at  the  same  time  become  more  sparsely  populated.  The  harems  are  more  isolated 
and  distinct.  Tbe  i>ulls  have  more  room  and  are  farther  removed  from  their  neighbors 
or  tbe  idle  bulls.  These  alterations,  however,  represent  mere  adaptation  to  changing 
conditions  and  are  not  indication  of  changes  in  tbe  habits  of  life. 

THE   POSSIBILITY    OF   DRIVING   THE    SEALS   ELSEWHERE. 

Most  of  the  dire  evils  charged  to  man's  interference  are  vague  and  intangible. 
Before  the  Paris  Tribunal  much  was  urged  by  tbe  British  representatives  about  the 
danger  of  the  methods  of  land  killing  driving  the  seals  to  seek  other  breeding  haunt.<>. 
But  no  proof  was  adduced  of  such  result.  Perhaps  tbe  best  illustration  of  this  class 
of  vague  possibilities  is  found  in  Mr.  Elliott's  monograph.' 

The  subject  of  bow  best  to  manage  the  fur-seal  islands  had  been  under  discussion. 
In  objection  to  the  plan  of  the  Government  itself  controlling  tbe  taking  and  selling 
of  the  seal  skins  Mr.  Elliott,  assuming  that  such  a  course  would  involve  tbe  sailing  of 


,k 


'  Seal  Islands  of  Alaska,  1881,  p.  27. 


Jl'i.X±4^1»  ..ai^tfili;  -^Ukf  .>!. 


ABANDONMENT   OF    SPILKl    KOOKEKY. 


137 


"a  thousaiitl  ships  to  be  present  at  the  sale,"  exclaims  that  "the  rattling-  of  their 
anchor  chains  and  the  scrapiiij;  of  their  keels  on  the  beaches  of  the  two  little  islands 
would  alone  drive  every  seal  away  and  over  to  the  Russian  grounds  in  a  remarkably 
short  space  of  time."  Tiie  (luality  of  seamanship  implied  in  the  second  feature  of  this 
dire  calamity  is  a  fair  indication  of  the  value  of  the  prophecy  as  a  whole. 

THE   ABANDONMENT   OF   SPILKl    ROOKERY. 

There  aie,  however,  a  few  of  the  alleged  injurions  effects  of  contact  with  man 
which  can  be  located  and  considered.  One  of  these  is  the  abandonment  of  the  small 
breeding  ground  formerly  occupied  by  seals  under  the  cliffs  beiiind  St.  Paul  village. 
Tiiis  breeding  ground,  though  out  of  sight  of  the  village,  is  very  close  to  it.  The 
claim  is  made  by  Mi.  Elliott  that  the  children  and  idlers  from  the  vilhige,  by  playing 
with  the  fur-seal  pups  and  teasing  them,  gradually  brought  about  tlie  abandonment 
of  the  rookery. 

Tlie  abandonment  of  Spilki  was  gradual  and  finally  cubninated  in  18S(J.  The 
old  bulls  came  and  took  up  their  places,  but  finding  iu>  cows  the;^  withdrew.  In 
187L*-1S74  Mr.  Klliott  reports  tliis  breeding  ground,  in  common  with  all  the  others,  in 
good  condition  and  full  of  seals.  In  1890  he  found  it  deserted.  His  conclusion  was 
that  the  seals,  under  tlie  annoyance  of  the  natives,  had  witiidrawn  elsewhere. 

THE    PRESENCE   OF   THE   VILLAGE    NOT   THE   CAUSE. 

It  is  sutlicient  answer  to  this  theory  to  say  that  the  village  of  St.  Paul  has  existed 
on  its  present  site,  and  conse(iueutly  in  the  same  proximity  to  Spilki  rookery,  ever 
since  1824.  For  fifty  years,  therefore,  according  to  Mr.  Elliott's  own  testimony,  no  ill 
effects  on  the  seals  had  been  produced  by  the  presence  of  the  villagers. 

MORE   EXPOSED   CONDITION    OF   LAGOON    ROOKERY. 

In  further  opposition  of  this  theory  we  may  mention  the  example  of  Lagoon  rookery, 
which  lies  just  across  the  little  cove  from  Spilki.  It  is  in  plain  sight  of  the  village  and 
but  little  farther  away  from  it.  AH  the  traflic  of  loading  and  unloading  the  sliijjs  passes 
before  it.  Moreover,  this  rookery  existed  undisturbed  for  years  and  yearr^  with  the 
operations  of  the  great  common  killing  ground  of  the  island  going  on  within  jdain 
sigiit  of  its  inmates  and  only  a  few  yards  away.  For  a  time  all  the  seals  on  the  island 
of  St.  Paul  were  slaughtered  on  the  Hat  beside  the  narrow  (channel  of  water,  about 
one  hundred  feet  in  widtii,  separating  Lagoon  rookery  from  the  killing  ground. 

Xo  clearer  proof  could  possibly  be  asked  than  the  example  this  rookery  shows, 
of  the  uttei  vlisregard  for  the  presence  and  actions  (»f  man  iniinifested  by  the  fur  seal! 

THE  REAL  CAUSE  OF  THE  ABANDONMENT. 

When  we  come  to  seek  a  more  rational  cause  for  the  abandonment  of  Sjtilki  rookery 
it  is  not  hard  to  find.  The  rookery  was  but  a  small  one  at  best,  as  the  ground  it 
occupied  was  limited.  Mr.  Elliott  ascribed  to  it  in  187-'-] 874  about  275  harems  and 
about  4,000  breeding  cows.  We  know  that  as  a  matter  of  fact  this  estimate  is  largely 
exaggerated.  The  log  of  St.  Paul  Island  shows  that  in  187!)  its  breeding  families 
numbered  29.  There  was  at  that  time  no  hint  given  of  abandonment  or  unusual 
diminution  of  the  rookery.  With  the  decline  of  the  herd,  which  began  a  few  years 
later,  and  may  have  been  begun  earlier,  this  rookery  suffered  diminution  with  the 


t 


I  i 


138 


THE    FUR   SEALS   OF    THE    I'RIBILOP   ISLANDS. 


otliei'8.  In  \8W)  ^\r.  Elliott  t'ouiid  that  the  herd  on  St.  Puiil  h.ul  diminished  to  about 
oii«!  fonrtli.  A  proportionate  reduction  for  Spilki  would  have  diminished  it  to  less 
than  a  dozen  families. 

To  one  who  understands  the  grejiarious  nature  of  the  fur  seal  there  is  no  surprise 
excited  by  tiie  abandonment  of  so  small  a  rookery  as  this.  The  conclusion  is  inevi- 
table that  when  reduced  to  a  mere  handful  of  harems,  the  animals  njoved  over  to  the 
larger  Lagoon  breeding  grouiul  across  the  cove. 

ORIGIN    OF   LAGOON   AND    SPILKI. 

We  do  not  know  which  of  these  two  rookeries  was  first  established,  but  it  is 
reasonable  to  suppose  tliat  the  one  originated  as  an  overflow  of  the  other,  as  both  are 
Iiniite<l  in  extent.  As  the  rocky  spit  on  which  Lagoon  rookery  is  established  appears 
to  be  of  recent  formation,  it  may  be  that  Spilki  was  the  original  breeding  ground.  But 
in  any  case  the  simple  explanation  of  the  abandonment  of  Spilki  is  found  in  its  small 
size  originally,  tiie  known  fact  of  decrease  in  the  herd,  and  the  gregarious  instinct  of 
the  animals.  When  the  remnant  became  too  small  to  exist  as  a  unit,  its  individuals 
moved  over  to  the  Lagoon,  to  be  with  the  crowd. 

THE   ABANDONMENT   OF   MARUNICHEN. 

In  further  support  of  this,  we  may  cite  the  only  other  example  of  absolute  .abandon- 
ment of  breeding  territory  on  the  islands.  On  the  north  shore  of  St.  Paul  formerly 
existed  a  small  rookery  which  has  long  since  disappeared.  Even  the  oldest  inhabitant 
(Kerick  Artimanof)  merely  remembers  it  was  talked  of  in  his  childlmod.  Mis  expla- 
nation that  it  was  a  small  rookery  and  never  looked  upon  as  important  gives  the  key 
to  the  situation.  Its  breeding  seals  abandoned  their  isolated  position  to  be  with  the 
crowds  on  the  shores  of  Northeast  Point  or  Zapadni.  Interference  on  the  part  of  man 
can  not  be  ottered  as  a  reason  for  its  abandonment,  for  there  is  no  more  isolated  and 
inaccessible  place  on  the  islaiul. 

ELLIOTT'S   THEORY  FOR   SIVUTCH   ROOKERY. 

In  his  1890  report  IVIr.  Elliott  explains  the  presence  of  a  breeding  rookery  on 
Sivutch  Itock  by  saying  that  the  seals  had  been  so  harassed  by  the  severe  methods  of 
driving  employed  on  Reef  rookery  that  they  had  sought  on  its  surface  a  jdace  where 
they  might  rest  in  peace,  lie  says  that  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  severe  driving  in 
188L*  the  seals  had  instinctively  avoided  this  place  because  of  its  exposed  position  and 
the  probable  destruction  of  the  young  by  the  storms  which  sweep  over  it.  In  short, 
he  assumes  a  few  seals  had  chosen  to  waive  tliQ  instinct  of  self  preservation  and  to 
locate  themselves  in  a  dangerous  position  simply  because  of  temporary  annoyance. 

We  have  already  si)oken  of  the  strong  instinct  «;f  the  fur  seal  and  its  lack  of 
reasoning  powers.  Such  an  explanation  as  this  is  wholly  inconsistent  with  both.  If 
the  animal  possessed  any  such  powers  of  discrimination  as  here  assumed,  there  would 
never  be  a  second  drive  nuide  from  any  hauling  ground  on  the  islands. 

SIVUTCH    OVERLOOKED    IN    1872-1874. 

We  are  inclined  to  believe  that  Mr.  Elliott  in  1872-1874  simply  overlooked  the 
presence  of  this  rookery.     He  says  nothing  about  it  in  his  earlier  report.    In  1890  he 


i 


""^^' 


i 


NOTIONS    REGARDING    THK    SEALS. 


139 


says  it  did  uot  exist  then  at  the  earlier  date'  Iiisi>ecti()ii  of  this  roclc  on  several 
occasious  duriug  the  seasons  of  I8<»(i  and  1897  shows  that  it  has  probably  always  been 
(occupied  as  a  breeding'  ground.  It  is  certainly  well  adai)ted  as  such.  It  is  not  wind 
swept  or  dangerous  to  breeding  seals.  The  high  ridge  of  lieef  peninsula  protects  it 
from  the  northern  and  western  storms,  while  Otter  Island  breaks  the  force  of  the 
storms  from  the  southwest.  Furtiiermore  the  drowning  of  pups  by  storms  is  one  of 
the  rarests  of  accidents. 

The  occurrence  of  a  breeding  ground  on  Sivutch  Hock  is  iierfectly  luitural.  Tlie 
ground  is  adapted  for  rookery  purposes.  It  is  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  shores 
of  lieef  rookery,  and  lies  directly  in  tiie  line  followed  by  tiie  seals  in  apj)roaciiing  it. 
There  is  no  need  of  seeking  a  more  complex  explanation.  It  would  be  a  matter  of 
greater  surprise  if  it  did  not  contain  a  rookery. 

THE  NOTIONS  OF  THE  ALEUTS. 

Most  of  the  a.)8urd  notions  current  regarding  the  seals  have  their  origin  in  the 
minds  of  tin;  Aleuts  themselves.  At  least  they  possess  such  notions  now,  though 
originally  tiiey  may  have  adopted  them  from  the  earlier  restrictions  which  were  once 
in  vogue  on  the  Pribilof  Islands,  and  some  of  which  are  still  enforced  on  the  Com- 
mander Islands.  Some  of  tliese  rules  are  the  following:  The  prohibition  of  the  use 
of  tobacco  on  the  rookeries,  of  the  wearing  of  hobnailed  shoes,  or  of  the  lighting  of 
iires  when  the  wind  was  in  such  a  direction  as  to  carry  the  smoke  into  tiie  vicinity 
of  a  rookery. 

The  Aleuts  may  be  excused  for  their  beliefs.  Their  training  and  exi>erience  is 
limited.  They  have  had  nothing  to  do  with  domestic  ainmals,  and  have  never  had 
opportunity  to  test  the  theories  they  hold  regarding  the  seals.  It  was  plainly  the 
belief  of  these  tjcople  that  direful  results  would  follow  our  work  of  the  past  two 
seasons  on  the  islands.  Une  intelligent  native  declared  that  the  scarcity  of  the  seals 
was  due  to  the  tiamping  of  investigators  about  the  rookeries  in  recent  years.  Another 
complacently  declared  that  the  rookeries  were  all  right,  because  the  old  bulls  came 
back  regularly  and  in  large  numbers. 

THESE  NOTIO'-TS  SHARED  BY  GOVERNMENT  AGENTS. 

That  the  fears  of  the  natives  have  been  shared  in  to  a  certain  extent,  at  least,  in 
the  past  and  are  still  held  by  the  agents  in  charge  of  the  islands,  is  evident.  Tiius, 
weliud  recorded  in  the  log  of  St.  Paul  Island,  under  dateof  ,luiu5  11, 18i>l,  the  opinion 
that  the  "constant  and  persistent  running  over  the  rookeries  of  HUiott  last  year  at 
this  time  may  be  charged  with  a  large  i»art  of  the  falling  olf  of  seals  driven."  Again, 
under  date  of  November  11,  18!>5,  the  opinion  is  recorded  that  the  "daily  scientific 
and  photographic  investigations"  of  the  summer  have  demoralized  the  rookeries. 
During  the  season  of  1897  serious  objections  were  made  to  the  experinuMits  in  elec^trical 
branding  as  conducted  in  the  vicinity  of  the  rookeries  because  of  supixised  injurious 
ertects  which  might  result  from  the  noise  of  the  gasoline  engine,  yet  the  animals 
themselves  paid  not  the  slightest  attention  to  the  engines  or  to  the  branding  operations. 
Most  of  them  have  not  even  yet  noted  the  existence  of  num. 


'  Set)  extract  from  loj?  of  St.  Paul,  Pt.  II,  uudcr  date  of  August  IS,  when  Cuptam  liryimt  icitorts 
luany  Heals  hiniled  uut  tlu-re. 


'BIS^BB 


1 


140 


THK    FUK    SKALS    OF    THE    I'RIBILOP    ISLANDS. 


•       I 


As  a  result  of  this  spirit  which  has  i)erva(le(l  the  inatia$j:ement  of  the  rookeries 
tlie  policy  of  the  past  has  been  virtually  to  keep  the  fur  seal  herd  in  a  wild  state,  it 
being  shut  out  from  all  sifjht  or  contact  with  man  except  in  so  far  as  it  was  necessary 
to  disturb  it  to  secure  the  product  of  the  herd. 

THE   POLICY   OF   SECLUSION    DETRIMENTAL. 

This  mistaken  policy  bore  its  fruit.  From  the  time  of  Mr.  Elliott's  investigation  in 
1872-1874  until  the  collapse  of  the  herd  in  1890  the  history  of  the  rookeries  is  a  blank, 
so  far  as  any  real  knowledge  is  concerned.  What  was  needed  was  a  thorough  and 
systematic  study  each  year  of  the  condition  of  the  breeding  herd.  It  is  safe  to  say 
tliat  had  this  been  done,  the  error,  falsehood,  and  confusion  which  so  eftectually  stitled 
the  truth  before  the  Paris  Tribunal  of  Arbitration,  and  caused  that  bewildered  court 
to  legalize  pelagic  sealing,  would  not  have  been  possible. 

Under  this  policy  of  seclusi  'u  the  herd  melted  away  to  one-half  of  its  si/e  before 
it  was  known  that  iiny  danger  threatened  it.  Year  by  year  thousands  of  the  young 
died  and  rotted  on  the  rookeries  as  the  result  of  the  ravages  of  a  dangerous  parasite, 
wiiich  should  have  been  recognized  and  measures  taken,  if  possible,  to  suppress  it. 
Otliers  of  the  young  died  of  starvation  on  the  rookeries,  proclaiming  not  only  the  fact 
but  the  cause  of  the  decline  of  the  herd,  but  they  were  unnoticed.  Had  the  fur-seal 
herd  been  treated  as  any  valuable  herd  of  animals  are  and  should  be  treated, 
its  habits,  needs,  possibilities,  and  limitations  studied  from  year  to  year  from  the 
beginning,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  there  would  now  be  no  fur-seal  (piestion.  Koi- 
the  didicu'ties  of  the  situation  to-day  the  policy  which  deferred  to  these  groundless 
fears  of  what  might  result  from  examination  and  disturbance  of  the  animals  is  in  a 
measure,  at  least,  responsible. 

INTELLIGENT  INSPECTION  NOT  WANTON  INVASION. 

It  is,  of  course,  not  contended  that  the  precautions  taken  against  wanton  invasion 
of  the  rookeries  by  the  natives  and  by  casual  visitors  are  not  wise  and  necessary. 
They  should  never  be  wanting,  but  they  should  never  include  or  influence  the  officers 
in  charge  of  the  herd.  We  make  a  clear  distinction  between  mere  disturbance  and 
intelligent  inspection  and  supervision.  It  is  possible  to  visit  the  rookeries  daily  and 
study  them  closely,  to  count  their  families  and  to  photograph  them,  without  disturbing 
the  breeding  seals  in  the  least.  After  the  breeding  season  is  over  and  the  harems 
have  broken  up,  the  rookeries  can  be  entered,  the  animals  driven  oflF,  and  their  grounds 
insi)eeted  without  harm. 

INSPECTION  NOT  HARMFUL. 

In  the  work  of  the  past  two  seasons  it  was  assumed  that  the  herd  could  be 
inspe(!ted  and  disturbed  to  any  extent  necessary.  Whatever  would  throw  light  on 
its  condition  was  unhesitatingly  carried  out.  The  breeding  grounds  were  under 
constant  inspection  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  breeding  season  and  until 
almost  the  departure  of  the  animals  from  the  islands  in  the  fall.  On  all  the  rookeries 
the  seals  were  twice  driven  off"  into  the  sea.  They  returned  immediately  to  their 
l»laces  and  resumed  their  usual  routine  as  if  never  disturbed.  On  the  rookeries  most 
frequently  visited  the  animals  came  apparently  to  ignore  our  inspection.  They  were 
manifestly  less  troubled  by  our  presence  than  on  rookeries  seldom  visited. 


cs^ 


EKFPXTS   OF   CONTACT    WITH    MAN. 
RELATIONS  OF  MAN  HAVE  NOT  AFFECTED  SEALS. 


141 


III  ,slioit,oiir  exiKiieiicc  leads  us  to  heliuvo  that  not  only  lias  contact  with  maH 
produced  no  in.jniions  ettect  on  the  herd,  bnt,  on  the  contrary,  more  intimate  and 
constant  c<mtact  under  intelligent  direction  would  tend  to  render  the  seals  more 
tractable,  and  certainly  open  the  way  to  the  improvement  of  their  condition.  It  will 
never  be  possible  to  house  and  feed  the  fnr  seals,  but  their  breeding  grounds  «!an  be 
drained  of  the  tilth  whic-li  now  breeds  death  to  the  young.  These  breeding  grounds 
can  be  extended  and  improved.  An  exact  enumeration  of  their  number  can  be  nuide. 
The  nudes  to  serve  the  breeding  grounds  can  be  selected  and  more  closely  limited, 
thus  obviating  loss  of  revenue  on  the  one  hand  and  injury  to  the  herd  on  the  other. 
In  other  words,  much  if  not  all  that  can  be  done  with  other  animals  is  possible  with 
the  fur  seal. 

To  sum  up  this  matter  of  the  relations  of  man  to  the  animals  on  the  islands:  We 
And  that  the  killing  of  males  us  carried  on,  at  least  since  the  islands  were  transferred 
to  the  United  States,  has  not  been  so  great  as  to  endanger  the  breeding  stock;  that 
the  methods  of  handling  the  seals  on  tiie  drives  and  killing  grounds  has  not  been 
such  as  to  permanently  injure  those  surviving  them.  In  a  word,  the  interference  and 
operations  of  man  have  in  no  way  contributed  to  alteration  of  the  life  habits  of  the 
fur  seal  aud  are  in  no  way  responsible  for  its  decline  and  threatened  extermination. 


11 


I  ' 


<iiAPri;i!   XI. 

PELAGIC  SEALING,  OR  KILLING  AT  SEA. 

THE  NATURE  OF  PELAGIC   SEALING. 

We  may  now  pass  to  a  consideration  of  the  secoiid  way  in  wliicli  man  has  come  in 
contact  with  the  fur  seals,  namely,  by  luinting  and  killing;  them  at  sea.  Pelagic  sealing, 
as  it  is  calh'd,  means  the  taking  of  seals  at  sea,  either  on  their  migrntions  oi'  on 
their  food  excursions  to  and  from  their  breeding  grounds.  It  is  necessarily  indisciim- 
inate  in  its  character,  aniiiuils  of  both  sexes  and  every  age  and  condition  being  taken. 
The  animals  are  killed  both  by  the  spear  and  with  firearms. 

THE  HUNTING  OF  THE  INDIANS. 

I'rom  the  earliest  times  the  natives  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Mattery  and  Vancouver 
Island  have  been  accustomed  to  hunt  the  fur  seal  in  their  dugout  canoes,  going  out 
from  sliore  for  this  purpose  a  distance  of  10  to  30  miles.  It  is  jn-obable  tliat  this 
hunting  has  existed  as  long  as  Indians  luave  occupied  these  regions  and  fur  seals  have 
annually  passed  their  shores.  The  taking  of  the  fur  seals  was  at  tirst  doubtless  asso- 
ciated with  the  hunting  of  the  sea  otter,  and  it  has  been  suggested  that  the  Hesh  of 
the  seal  rather  than  its  fur  was  the  original  object  of  its  capture. 

With  the  decline  of  the  sea  otter  and  the  various  land  furs,  the  skin  of  the  fur 
seal  came  to  have  a  value  and  found  its  way  into  the  markets  through  the  haiuls  of 
the  traders.  In  time  the  taking  of  fur  seals  became  the  object  of  special  attention, 
and  the  plan  was  developed  of  transporting  the  Indians  and  their  canoes  to  the 
sealing  grounds  by  means  of  sailing  vessels,  thus  enabling  them  to  carry  on  their 
operations  consecutively  and  over  a  wider  area. 

THE  INTRODUCTION  OF  VESSELS. 

This  first  use  of  vessels  in  hunting  the  fur  seals  dates  from  about  the  yeiu-  1872, 

and  for  several  years  the  number  employed  was  small,  probably  not  exceeding  live  or 

six  before  187*.).    By  their  means  the  hunters  were  able  to  reach  a  distance  of  from  7."> 

to  100  uiiles  from  shore  and  to  follow  the  herd  on  its  luirthward  journey  to  the  brei'ding 

grounds.     From   1.S70  onward   the   number  of  vessels  engaged   in   pelagic   sealing 

increased  rapidly.    In  1880  the  tleet  numbered  1(>  vessels,  making  another  bound  to 

31  vessels  in  1S80,  this  second  increase  being  due  to  the  opening  up  of  Bering  Sea 

in  1883,'  when  the  schooner  Vity  of  Stiii  Dief/o  took  a  catch  of  between  2,000  and  .3,000 

skins  there. 

THE  EXPANSION  OF  THE  INDUSTRY. 

After  the  introdu('(ion  of  vessels  there  was  a  steady  expansi<»n  of  the  territory 
covered  by  sealing  operations.     The  fleet  gradually  began  to  go  south  of  Cape  Flattery 


<  Siufu  this  WU8  written  tliero  has  couu^  into  the  possoaaion  oi'  Mr.  C'liiirles  II.  Towiiaeixl  the  log  of 
tlit«  achooncr  .Srtii  Diego  (often  confnsrd  with  tlie  Cilii  of  Sun  Diri/o,  anoth(U'  vessel),  wliioh  shows  tliat  shi- 
took  :i  ratdi  of  at'iils  in  Bering  Seii  in  ISSO.     See  Mr.  Townseud'a  |iiipei'  on  Pelagic  Sealing,  in  Tint  III. 


112 


METHODS   OF   PKLAtilC    8EALIN(i. 


148 


['ir 


or 


•^•'■'0*2 


to  meet  the  herd  Itet'ort'  it  rejw;hetl  that  point,  and  the  huutei's  tiullowed  its  course 
from  the  moutii  of  the  Cohimbia  Itiver  to  tlie  passes  of  the  Aleutian  Ishuids.  finally 
enterinj;-  Bering  Sea,  and  continuing  their  operations  on  the  summer  feeding  grounds 
of  the  animals. 

THE  USE  OF  FIREARMS. 

iJefore  the  year  188(5  Indian  hunters  were  used  exclusively,  and  the  primitive 
methods  of  the  spear  and  the  canoe  were  cmidoyed.  But  with  the  great  increase  of 
the  tieet  it  was  necessary  to  employ  white  hunters,  and  as  these  could  not  compete 
with  the  Indians  in  the  use  of  the  spear,  flreatms  were  introduiicd,  the  rifle  first,  and 
afterwards  the  shotgun  loaded  with  buckshot.  The  use  of  the  ritle  resulted  in  a  great 
loss  by  sinking  of  the  seals  killed.  The  shotgun  proved  more  ettective,  though  many 
seals  were  still  lost,  esi»ecially  at  first,  before  the  hunters  had  learned  to  avoid  piercing 
the  lungs. 

The  development  of  pelagic  sealing  in  Bering  Sea  after  1880  was  a  steady  growth, 
though  the  number  of  vessels  fluctuated  on  account  of  seizures  by  the  American 
authorities.     In  1891  the  fleet  numbered  lir»  vessels. 

THE  MODUS  VIVENDI. 

In  this  year  a  modus  vivendi  was  declared,  closing  the  waters  of  Bering  Sea  to 
pelagic  sealing.  The  measure  was  i)ut  into  force  too  late  in  the  season  of  1891  to 
prevent  the  fleet  from  entering  upon  its  work.  It  had,  therefore,  at  best  only  a 
deterrent  ett'ect.  As  a  result  of  being  warned  out  of  the  sea,  certain  vessels  crossed 
over  to  the  Asiatic  side  and  obtained  seals  there.  On  this  account,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  the  modus  vivendi  was  renewed  in  1892  and  made  efleetive,  the  pelagic 
Heet  in  that  year  was  increased  to  122  vessels.  More  vessels  engaged  in  sealing  on 
the  Asiatic  side,  and  in  1893,  still  under  the  modus  viven<li,  the  bulk  of  the  sealing 
was  transferred  to  the  Commander  herd,  t)(>,000  skins  in  all  being  taken  from  Asiatic 
waters. 

THE  REGULATIONS  OF  THE  PARIS  AWARD. 

Bering  Sea  was  opened  again  in  1894  under  the  regulations  of  the  Paris  Tribunal 
and  the  largest  catch  ever  made  in  these  waters  was  taken.  Since  this  dute  sealing 
has  continued  under  certain  limitations,  the  chief  of  which  are  a  closed  zone  of  (iO 
miles  about  the  Lslands  and  a  closed  season  from  the  1st  of  May  to  the  1st  of  August. 
The  decline  in  the  herd  has  elfected  a  decline  in  pelagic  sealing  itself.  During  the 
season  of  1897  less  than  half  the  vessels  engaged  in  sealing  in  1890  en*-oved  the  sea 
and  the  catch  from  all  sources  for  that  season  was  but  little  more  than  oie-half.  From 
a  fleet  of  nearly  100  vessels  in  1894  the  sealing  vessels  have  dinunished  to  less  than 
30  in  1897. 

THE  SEALING  VESSELS. 

The  vessels  comprising  the  pelagic  Hectare  sailing  schooners  ranging  in  size  from 
25  to  125  tons  burden.  Hach  vessel  carries  a  crew  f)f  from  ten  to  fifty  men  with  from 
half  a  dozen  tt>  twenty  boats  or  canoes.  Boats  are  used  where  white  hunters  are 
employed.    The  Indians  use  their  own  canoes. 

Kach  boiit  is  manned  by  three  men,  two  hunters,  armed  with  rifles  or  shotguns 
or  both,  and  a  rower  to  manage  the  boat.  The  Indians  hunt  with  two  men  in  a  canoe, 
one  a  steerer  to  wanage  the  craft  and  the  other  the  hunter  to  throw  the  spear. 


1 


144 


THE    FUR   SEALS   OK    THE    I'RIUILOF    ISLANDS. 


n 


h. 


I  • 


METHODS  OF  SEALING. 

Wlit'ii  the  HohooniT  comes  into  sealing  territory  aiMl  the  weather  is  favorable,  her 
boats  or  canoes  are  lowered  and  sent  in  .seareh  of  seals.  They  go  to  the  windward  and 
at  i'ightly  <lirterent  angles ;  the  vessel  follows  under  .slow  sail  trying  to  keep  in 
sight  of  the  boat.s.  Night  or  the  approach  of  bad  weather  drives  in  the  boats 
with  their  catch  of  the  day  whatever  it  may  be. 

THE  SEALS  AS  FOUND. 

Seals  at  sea  are  desiguateil  in  three  different  classes.  When  found  in  motion  they 
are  called  "travelers."'  When  at  rest  they  are  called  "sleepers."  Sometimes  resting 
seals  are  awake,  but  listlessly  floating  on  the  water,  and  from  the  nu)vement  of  their 
dippers  they  are  said  to  be  "tinning.'' 

METHODS  OF  CAPTURE. 

THK   Sl'BAB. 

in  favorable  weatlier  seals  are  found  sleeping  between  the  hours  from  1>  o'clock  in 
the  morning  until  5  or  (i  in  the  evening.  In  stormy  weather  the  seals  can  not  rest  and 
so  sleep  more  soundly  in  the  first  good  weather  after  a  storm.  Sleeping  seals  are  as 
a  rule  taken  with  the  spear.  Mr.  A.  li.  Alexander  has  given  us  the  following  graphic 
account  of  the  operation : ' 

At  the  eiiil  of  an  boiii'  w<-  miw  our  tii'Ht  st-al  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  ahead.  The  canoe  was 
kept  oil'  under  its  loo,  the  sail  taken  in,  ;inil  everytliin^  put  in  rcadineHH  for  iictiou.  Cautiously  we 
paddled  toward  the  prey,  eare  liein;;  taken  not  to  make  tlii'  sliji;litost  noise.  We  approached  within 
about  40  feet  when  tho  seal  began  to  grow  resth'ss,  as  if  It  was  dreaming  of  danger.  The  hunter 
stood  brared,  spear  in  hand,  and  with  true  aim  ho  burled  it  with  all  his  force  at  the  sleeping  object. 
In  an  instant  the  scene  of  repose  was  changed  into  one  ol'  intense  excitement  and  pain.  With  a  Jump 
the  seal  in-stantly  disappeared  below  the  surface,  but  not  tii  escape,  for  when  once  a  sjiear  becomes 
fastened  to  au  object  it  siddiuu  ]iulls  out.  Soon  it  cauu^  n]>  to  breathe  and  renew  its  desnerate 
struggh'  for  liberty.  It  stood  in  the  water  facing  us,  with  its  body  half  exjiosed  as  if  taking  in  the 
situati4)n,  and  with  a  kind  of  low  piteous  growl,  as  though  itreali/.ed  its  end  was  near,  it  renewed  the 
contest.  It  fought  madly,  diving,  jumping,  and  swinnniug  with  grcttt  speed,  first  in  one  direction, 
then  in  another,  sometimes  on  one  side  of  the  canoe  and  then  on  the  other,  the  Indian  all  the  time 
holding  the  spear  rope,  trying  to  draw  the  seal  near  the  canoe  so  as  to  strike  it  on  the  head  with  the 
killing  club.  In  its  frantic  efforts  to  escape,  it  bit  at  the  line  several  times,  but  soon  abandoned  the 
idea  of  gaining  its  freedom  in  such  a  manner  and  again  resorted  to  jumping  and  diving.  The  loss 
of  blood  soon  caused  it  to  grow  weak,  ami  after  a  tight,  which  lasted  perhaps  five  minutes,  it  t^t^asod 
to  struggle  altogether  and  was  hauled  to  the  side  of  the  canoe  and  dispatcheil  with  the  club. 

THK   SHOOTlNd    OF   8EALS. 

Traveling  seals  are  taken  by  shooting.  Sleeping  seals  are  of  course  shet  also,  but 
with  these  animals  the  spear  is  more  effective  since  they  are  fre(|uently  found  sleeping 
in  groups.  To  shoot  into  one  of  these  groups  means  the  taking  of  but  one  animal,  and 
the  report  startles  all  the  other  seals  in  the  vicinity.  With  the  spear  but  little  noise 
is  made. 

Where  the  traveling  seal  is  jumping  clear  of  the  water,  "breaching,"  as  it  is  called, 
the  rifle  is  used,  as  the  shot  must  be  made  at  longer  range.  Where  the  seal  is  within 
close  range  or  can  be  approached,  as  when  it  is  asleep,  the  shotgun  discharging  buck- 
shot is  used.    The  aim  is  for  the  head  or  breast  of  the  animal. 


'  Proc.  Fur  Si-al  Arb.,  Vol.  9,  p.  :M6. 


SHOTGrN    AND   8PRAK. 


Uf) 


J,  lier 
I  iiiid 

boats 


II  they 
eating 
f  their 


;loeiv  ill 
est  ami 

I  are  as 
graphic 

•aiioe  wiis 
iously  v.e 
ed  within 
ho  liuiitpr 
ng  oh.jfct. 
itha.iunip 
r  bet'oiues 

deHi)eiiit<! 
.ing  iu  th<> 
nowed  the 

direction, 

II  the  time 
d  with  the 
adiined  tliu 

Tlie  loss 
H,  it  (cttsp.d 
ih. 


also,  but 
sleeping 
liiual,  and 
ittlo  noise 

t  is  called, 
1  is  within 
lini 


The  tbilowing  dcsi-ri|)tion  of  the  methods  of  taking  seals  is  given  by  Lieutenant 
(Jiiiiian,'  of  the  revenue-cutter  Vonrin,  in  relating  his  experi»'nce  in  a  canoe  with 
Indian  hunters  ott'  Sitka  Sound,  May  1,  isitli, 

\Vi<  hiid  pulled  Hovoral  inilt'H  witlioiit  Bei-iiiK  iiiiythiiiK,  wlioii  Niiddenly  the  Ntcoi'Miiiaii  gnvit  thx 
raiioo  II  shake  mid  pointed  in  Hileme  to  n  sral  75  yiiids  distant.     "     '  The  howniaii  tonk  in  his 

oars  and  sii)istitiited  the  paddle,  and  the  eanoe  ^I'ded  noiselessly  toward  the  iineoiiscioiisseiil.  When 
williin  10  yards  of  it  tlie  after  paddle  alone  was  used  and  the  liowniaii  stood  ready  with  the  shotgun. 
During  all  this  time  not  a  word  was  spoken,  and  so  noiselessly  did  the  canoe  glide  that  wo 
got  witliiii  10  yards  of  it  and  the  hunter  tired,  pouring  aeharge  of  biieksbot  into  its  lireast.  The  seal, 
to  my  great  astonishment,  was  not  killed,  but  gave  us  a  siirprlHud  look,  and  instantly  dived  out  of 
sight.  It  rostt  again  ■'iO  yards  otV,  gave  us  another  look,  and  a  second  time  disappeared.  Then  followed 
a  eliaie  to  windward,  the  Indians  dexterously  applying  their  paddles  in  that  direction.  Three  tiinus 
it  disappeared  and  re.ippeared  before  it  was  linally  shot  iind  captured.  Kven  then  it  was  necessary 
to  use  the  club  to  kill  it.  One  hook  with  the  gatV,  a  sudden  pull,  and  the  unfortunate  seal  was  in  the 
canoe. 

L     <S  BKSfLTIN(}   FROM  SHOOTING. 

It  is  phii'i  that  l>y  the  method  of  shooting  a  curtain  jiercentage  of  loss  rtssults 
from  the  wounding  of  animals  and  also  fr<mi  the  sinking  of  animals  before  they  can 
be  recovered.  That  many  of  the  wounded  a.iimals  escape  is  shown  by  the  coiisid- 
eralilc!  number  of  bachelors  on  tiie  hauling  grounds  which  carry  buckshot  in  their 
bodies.  At  each  killing  the  natives  gather  up  a  collection  of  slugs.  That  other 
aniiiials  escape  only  to  di(^  later  on  may  reasonably  be  inferred.  In  the  summer  of 
18!M>  several  seals  wounded  by  shooting  were  known  to  die  after  coming  ashore  on 
the  rookeries.-'  What  the  i)ercentage  of  loss  may  be  which  thus  results  can  not  be 
determined.  The  liuiiters  themselves  can  not  tell  what  eflect  their  shots  produce, 
where  the  animal  is  not  recovered.  It  may  escape  unhurt,  may  have  been  slightly 
wounded  and  thus  likely  to  recover,  or  .so  seriously  injured  as  to  cause  it  to  give  up 
later  on  and  die. 

The  greatest  loss  probably  results  from  the  use  of  the  ri tie.  Where  the  range 
is  (tonsiderable  and  the  animal  is  killed  instantly  it  sink.^'.  out  of  re.ich  before  the  boat 
can  get  it.  With  the  shotgun  the  same  result  is  likely  to  occur,  but  the  range  being 
shorter  not  so  many  animals  are  lost.  Of  late  years  the  loss  of  shot  seals  has  been 
greatly  diminished,  because  it  has  been  found  that  when  the  animal  is  shot  in  the 
head  or  neck  and  the  lungs  left  full  of  air  the  body  does  not  sink  so  rapidly. 

THE   Sl'EAB   LEAST    WASfEI'lTL. 

With  the  spear  the  loss  must  be  very  slight.  Where  the  animal  escapes  by  the 
tearing  out  of  the  spearhead  it  doubtless  recovers,  but  these  instances  are  rare. 
That  some  animals  escape  through  the  breaking  of  the  line  attached  to  the  spear- 
head is  shown  by  the  number  of  these  weapons  picked  up  on  the  rookeries.  Two 
spearheads  with  the  lines  attached  were  found  fastened  in  the  rocks  on  Zapadni 
rookery  of  St.  Paul  in  18!)l!.  The  lines  had  become  fast  and  the  aninnUs  had  torn 
themselves  loose.  During  the  past  season  a  cow  came  aslior»»  on  St.  Paul  with  a 
spearhead  through  her  back  which,  while  it  did  not  kill  her,  left  her  (irippled  atid 
useless.  •* 


buck- 


'  Proc.  Fur  .Seal  Arb.,  vol.  !>,  p.  ;t.">l. 

-.See  Daily  .lourui'l,  I'art  II,  date  of  .Iiily  25,  ISSHi. 

'Hee  Daily  Jonrnal,  I'art  II,  date  of  August  15,  1897. 


15181- 


-10 


146 


THK    VVH    SKAI.S   OK    TlIK    I'RIBII.Ol'    IHLANDS. 


or  tlio  two  iiu'tliodH  or  killing  Mu^  siv.ils  at  sea  I  lie  spiw  is  llic  surest  and  results 
ill  tlie  least  waste.  ISotli  iiietliods  iiave  tiieir  speeial  tields,  however,  and  the 
reguhitidiis  under  which  i>ehi;,'ie  sealing;'  is  now  earned  on,  as  if  desijiiiod  expressly 
for  the  pehij^C'c  sealer,  recojujiii/es  them  clearly.  Thus,  wiien  the  seals  are  on  their 
iiiiffrations  and  consei|ueiitly  alternately  traveling  and  resting  hoth  lirearnis  and 
spears  are  allowed.  For  the  traveling  seal  the  gun  can  l»e  used;  for  the  sleeping 
seal  the  spear.  On  the  feeding  grounds  in  iJering  Sea  only  the  spear  is  allowed. 
There  the  animals  are  found  almost  exclusively  sleeping  or  feeding.  The  noise  of  the 
gun  wcmld  be  a  positive  disadvantage,  as  it  would  startle  all  the  seals  in  the  vicinity. 
From  the  point  of  view  of  the  herd  both  methods  are  deadly,  the  ditl'erenco  being 
merely  one  of  degree. 

NORTHWEST  COAST  SEALING. 

l*elagi(r  sealing  is  carried  on  in  two  distinct  areas  and  at  two  distinct  seasons. 
While  the  seals  are  on  their  return  migration  along  the  Americaii  shore  they  are  met 
by  the  pelagic  tleet  otV  tlie  coast  of  California  at  about  the  latitude  of  Point 
Conception.  From  here  northward  tit  the  vi<'inity  of  Middleton  island  the  herd  is 
followed  by  tiie  pelagic^  tleet.  Formerly  seals  were  also  taken  along  the  coast  of  the 
Alaskan  peninsula  to  the  passes  by  which  they  entered  Bering  Sea.  At  present 
the  closed  season  begining  in  May  shuts  off  this  c.itch. 


1 


BERING  SEA  SEALING. 

In  Bering  Sea  sealing  is  c/trried  on  in  the  summer  feeding  grounds  of  the  fur 
seals.  These  grounds  are  locited  from  lt)(t  t »  LMH)  miles  distant  from  the  islands  and 
lie  cliieliy  to  the  westward  and  southward  in  tie  deep  water  ott'  the  IdO-fathoin  curve. 
They  are  fre(|uented  cliieliy  by  the  female  seals  which  leave  the  rookeries  at  regular 
intervals  during  tiie  summer  t(»  feed,  returning  to  nourish  their  oflfspring. 

It  is  not  necessary  here  to  go  into  greater  detail  regarding  these  matters  nor  to 
mention  the  sealing  grounds  of  tlie  ('omnmnder  Island  herd.  The.se  matters  are  all 
taken  up  in  detail  by  Mr.  Townsend  in  a  sitecial  paper  whi«'h  appears  elsewhere  in 
Part  III  of  this  report. 

THE  PELAGIC  CATCH. 

In  the  statistical  appendix  to  the  present  volnine  will  be  found  a  detailed  talile  of 
the  pelagic-  catch  from  the  various  hunting  grounds.  From  this  table  we  may  here 
give  the  following  summary: 

Tiilal  peliujic  <uUh  in  all  watira,  1Si:S-lS97. 
I'ribilol'  liei'd: 

North  west,  roust 395, 8H() 

Bering  Sea ._ 240,908 

63«,  7!<8 
(Joiuuiuntler  herd:  ■liipaii  and  Kiissiaii  coasts 256,  259 

Total 893,047 


KFPECT  OF  MODUS  VIVENDI. 


147 


lay  Ueie 


,8»0 
,  25!t 


I 


1,047 


In  iulditiuii  to  this  total  thcro  am  U5,0(M)  skins  wliivli  liavu  buen  tukeii,  luit  t'oi- 
wiiicli  tiie  (Ic'Hnito  locality  of  «;aiitur«  lias  not  been  detormined,  niakin;>  a  grand  total 
of  !t.S8,OI7  animals,  or  approximately  1,(KK>,(MK»  seals,  known  to  have  been  killed  at  sea 
from  the  combined  Russian  and  American  herds. 

THIS  DOES  NOT  INCLUDE  SEALS  KILLED  BUT  LOST. 

The  tigures  just  given  inelndeoidy  animals  actually  secured  and  who.se  skins  were 
lirought  to  market.  N(»  attem|)t  has  been  made  to  form  any  estimate  of  the  nund)er 
of  animals  which  escaped  to  die  of  their  wounds,  or  of  th(»se  killed  outrijjlit.  whose 
bodies  sank  before  they  could  be  secured.  The  loss  arising  from  these  sources  is 
considerable  even  at  the  [tresent  time,  where  lirearms  are  used,  and  in  the  early  days 
of  their  use  it  must  have  been  very  great. 

EARLY  SEALING  CONFINED  TO  PRIBILOF  HERD. 

Until  the  year  I8!tl  all  pelagic  sealing  was  confined  to  the  Tribilof  herd,  anil  pri(»r 
to  the  year  1883  all  t\n'  .seals  were  taken  otl'  the  Northwest  coast.  After  188;{  sealing 
in  Bering  Sea  was  added.  In  18iH  a  modus  vivendi  was  declared  ou  June  IT),  desigued 
to  close  Bering  Sea.'  This  measure  \vn  enewcd  in  the  two  succeeding  years,  ju-nding 
the  results  of  the  Arbitration  Tribumil.  It  nniy  be  remarked  in  tl. is  connection  that 
the  importance  of  this  modus  vivendi  "f  1891-181K1,  in  its  relation  to  the  herd,  was  not 
great.  Its  promulgation  in  1891  \i  is  too  l:\te  to  make  it  etl'ective,  as  the  fact  that  the 
herd  h)st  li>,()00  more  sealsat  sen  uithat  year  t!, an  in  1890  abundantly  shows.  In  1892 
it  merely  checked  the  increase  of  the  calch,  leaving  it  still  6,090  more  than  it  was 
before  the  measun  was  put  into  etfe -i.  In  189.?,  when  the  catch  fell  to  ,'50,000,  which 
was  but  10,000  less  than  the  catch  of  1890,  the  herd  derived  some  benelit.  Of  course, 
if  we  take  into  account  what  the  herd  might  have  lost  through  the  increase  of  the 
catch  in  this  period,  the  benetit  to  the  herd  was  grciiter.  But  it  was  at  best  oidy  a 
postponement  of  the  loss,  as  in  1894  the  catch  rose  immediately  to  01,000 — double  that 
of  1893—  and  was  in  189r»  still  1(5,000  greater  than  the  catch  of  1890;  its  decline  since 
that  time  has  been  due  to  the  dinnnisbing  herd. 

THE  SUSPENSION  OF  LAND  KILLING. 

On  the  other  hand  the  suspension  of  killing  on  land  only  released  young  males  to 
grow  up  which  are  now,  as  idle  and  supertiuous  bulls,  a  menace  to  the  rookeries.  In 
the  case  of  the  pelagic  sealers  the  measure  only  ])ostponed  the  time  of  taking  the  seals, 
as  the  females  which  escape  in  one  season  are  still  available  the  next,  while  on  land 
the  young  males  released  were  irrevocably  lost  to  the  (lovernment  and  the  lessees, 
because  before  nornnil  conditions  were  resumed  they  had  taken  on  the  wig  of  the  half 
bull,  and  their  skins  became  of  no  value.  The  suspension  of  land  an<l  sea  killing, 
therefore,  during  the  modus  vivendi,  was  at  be.st  of  very  doubtful  value. 

MODUS  VIVENDI  TRANSFERRED  SEALING  TO  ASIATIC  JIDE. 

The  modus  vivendi,  however,  had  this  effect:  It  intluenced  a  certain  nund)er  of 
sealing  vessels  to  try  their  luck  on  the  Asiatic  side  of  the  racilic  Ocean.    These,  in 


■  8eo  foutnote  to  page  144  of  this  volume. 


P;, 


148 


THK    FUR   SEALS   OF    THE    PRIHILOF   ISLANDS. 


l.Si>l,took  a  small  catch  of  8,(H)0  seals  from  tlio  Commander  herd.  In  1892,  when  the 
modus  Vivendi  was  renewed  and  made  eHective,  a  larger  number  of  vessels  crossed 
over  at  the  close  of  the  spring  sealing  ott'  the  Northwest  Coast;  and  in  1893,  Bering  Sea 
being  again  iosed,  the  greater  part  of  the  sealing  vas  transferred  to  the  Asiatic  side. 
The  growth  of  the  catch  from  the  Commander  Island  herd  was  very  rapid.  Beginning 
with  8,000  skins  in  1891,  it  numbered  06,000  skins  in  1893. 


THE  DECLINE  OF  THE  CATCH. 

During  the  period  from  1 808  to  1880  the  pelagic  catch  was  merely  nominal,  ranging 
from  four  to  live  thousand  skins  yearly.  With  the  year  1881  it  increased  steadily 
until  1894,  when  the  maximum  was  reached  in  a  catch  of  141,143  skins.  Since  that 
year  it  has  rapidly  declined  to  a  total  of  about  39,000  skins  in  the  season  of  1897. 

The  following  table  will  make  clear  the  fact  of  this  decline: 


Year. 


Pribilof 
lierd . 


18<>4. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 


61,838 
58, 201 
43, 017 
24, 321 


Coiniiiander 
lienl. 


70, 305 
37,  03.1 
24, 101 
13, 801 


UNFAVORABLE  WEATHER  NOT  THE  CAUSE  OF  DECLINE. 

The  decline  in  the  pelagic  catch  has  been  explained  by  the  sealers  as  due  to 
unfavorable  weather'  and  ill  luck  in  locating  the  animals  rather  than  to  any  lack  of 
seals.  It  is  unnecessary  here  to  discuss  the  matter  at  length.  Hefereuce  to  Mr. 
Townsend's  notes  and  tables  of  daily  catches,  published  in  Part  III  of  this  report,  will 
show  clearly  enough  that  no  marked  difference  has  e.xisted  between  the  weather 
conditions  of  recent  seasons  and  those  of  earlier  onesi.  The  real  cause  of  the  decline 
in  the  pelagic  catch,  of  course,  is  the  depleted  condition  of  the  herd.  With  a  herd 
reduced  to  less  than  one-fifth  its  original  size  it  could  not  be  reasonably  expected 
that  the  usual  number  of  animals  could  be  found  at  sea. 


PELAGIC  KILLING  AND  LAND  KILLING  COMPARED. 

It  will  help  us  to  arrive  at  a. just  appreciation  of  the  relation  of  pelagic  sealing  to 
the  iiistory  of  the  fur-seal  iierd  if  we  compare  its  catch  with  tliat  taken  on  the  islands. 
In  tlie  following  table  we  have  this  comparison  fully  set  forth.  There  is  given,  in 
addition  to  the  total  number  of  males  killed  for  all  i)urposes,  tlie  date  at  which  the 
([uota  was  each  year  filled,  the  number  of  hauling  grounds  wliich  it  was  necessary  to 
drive  from,  and  the  number  of  drives  required.  These  are  taken  from  the  records  of 
the  islands.  The  statistics  of  the  pelagic  catch  are  taken  from  the  ot!i(!ial  data  of  the 
Treasury  Department,  which  is  given  in  full  in  Appendix  I. 


'  Her.  St'ii  Quest.,  llcpt.  Murine  and  Fislmriow.  Ottiiwn,  1«9(>,  Venning,  p.  16. 


if 


STATISTICS   OF    LAND   AND   SEA    KILLINQ. 


14i) 


SlatMic$  rt'ijariliiig  laud  and  »«■(/  killimj,  lf<71-tS9^ 


i 


ViHr. 
1871 

Uato 
iiiiiitn 
micil.' 

Jiilv  28 

1872 

Jiii'v  25 

1873 

Jiilv  24 

1874 

July  17 

1875 

July  ]« 

187G 

\iiir.    p 

1877       

Inly  14 

1878 

1  July  18 

1879 

lulv  1<> 

1880 

I  Illy    17 

1881 

July  20 

1882 

Iiijv  an 

1883 

Jul'v  1!) 

1884 

July  21 

1885  

Inly  27 

1886 

Inly  26 

1887 

July  24 

1888 

Jniv  27 

1889 

Jnl'v  111 

1890  

.fiil'v  •>()< 

1891 .' 

1892 

1893 

1894 

A  UK-    4 

1895 

..    July  27 

1896 

Jnl'y  27 

1897 

Auir.    7 

Ilniillii); 
(iiiiunils 
ilrixt'n.' 


46 
4» 
51 
01 
55 
;)6 
44 
54 
71 
78 
'.» 
80 
81 
101 
100 
117 
101 
102 

no 

87 
(*) 
(') 
(») 


Nuinl)or 

of 
driypK.' 


43 

;io 
;i7 

41 

37 
30 
32 
35 
36 
38 
34 
30 
39 
42 
03 
74 
66 

73  I 

74  1 
55  I 

(=) 


31 
42 


KiUimI  cm 
liiud.' 


102. 070 

108,81!) 

11)9, 177 

1 10,  585 

106.  4<(l 

04.  0iJ7 

81,310 

1(I<J,  323 

110.411 

105.  718 

105.  063 

1)9,812 

79,  500 

105,  434 

105,  024 

104.521 

105,  700 

103,  304 

102,  017 

28. 05!) 

12, 040 

7,511 

7,396  : 

IB.  270 

14,846 

30.  054 

10,200 


Killed 

ilt  St'H. 


16,911 
5,  336 
5, 220 
5,873 
5, 033 
.5,515 
5,210 
5,  544 
8,557 
8.418 

10,  382 

15.  .55 1 

16.  .5.57 
IB,  971 
23.  040 
28.  494 
30.  628 
26,  180 
20.  8.-i8 
40,  814 
5!),  568 
46,  042 
30,  812 
01.  838 
56.  291 
43.  917 
24. 321 


■  These  figures  refer  only  tn  tliii  hauling  grounds  of  St.  Paul. 

'Tlifsi'  tottils  ini'ludu  alt  tnali's  killed  for  any  purixise  on  the  islands. 

^  In  1876  tilt'  killing  wan  cIOHed  at  an  unnsual  datf,  said  to  be  on  aocoiiul  of  an  vxceptiunully  late  ai'a.snn. 

^C'logi'd  l>y  order  of  the  agent  in  charge. 

'Years  ol'  the  modus  yiyendi. 

THE  PERIOD  FROM  1871-1882. 

For  purposes  of  study  we  may  divide  this  record  into  two  sections,  the  first 
covering  the  period  to  and  including  1882  During  this  time  we  find  that  the  number 
of  animals  taken  on  land  as  well  as  at  sea  was  each  year  relatively  constant,  the  former 
being  maintained  at  a  maximum,  the  latter  at  a  minimum.  We  find  that  from  1874  to 
the  close  of  this  period  the  requisite  number  of  killable  seals  could  be  procured  at  such 
an  early  date  as  to  dearly  indicate  that  no  difficulty  was  experienced  in  tilling  the 
quota.  During  the  whole  of  this  time  the  number  of  drives  and  hauling  grounds 
diiveii  from  was  uniform  and  normal.  In  .short,  all  the  evidence  goes  to  show  that  the 
herd  was  in  a  state  of  practical  equilibrium,  neither  increasing  nor  diminishing  to  any 
marked  degree.  The  reduction  of  the  number  of  animals  killed  on  land  in  the  last 
year  of  this  period  has  already  been  di.scus.sed  iu  its  appropriate  place.  It  has  no 
significance  here. 

THE  GROWTH  OF  THE  CATCH. 

It  will  be  seen,  however,  in  the  record  of  pelagic  sealing  that  from  a  normal  catch 
of  slightly  over  5,000,  covering  a  period  of  eight  years,  it  a^lvanced  to  S,000  in  1H80  and 
to  ir»,0(M)  the  closing  year  of  the  period.    This  latter  fact  is  significant. 

RELATION  OF  GAINS  AND  LOSSES  IN  THE  HERD. 

We  have  already  shown  that  the  condition  of  the  fur-seal  herd  is  determined  by 
tiie  relation  of  its  gains  and  losses.  Its  losses  are  of  two  kinds,  natural  and  artificial. 
We  may  class  as  natural  those  losses  arising  from  old  age,  accidents  of  the  .•sea,  or  the 


if 


h. 


B 


T 


i        ! 


I 


It 


'  I 


( 
u 


150 


THE    FUR   SEALS   OP   THE   PRIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


Btriiygles  on  the  rookeries.  The  sole  artiticiul  loss  to  which  the  herd  has  been  sub- 
jected is  that  resulting  from  pelagic  sealing.  We  may  assume  that  the  natural  losses 
pf  the  herd  were  in  these  early  days,  as  now,  constant  and  uniform.  With  the  small 
added  loss  resulting  from  pelagic  sealing  they  balanced  the  gain  of  the  herd  due  to  the 
intlnx  of  young  breeders.  It  may  be  that  the  loss  entailed  by  the  pelagic  catch  was 
the  final  determining  check  on  the  herd's  increase.  As  we  have  seen,  in  the  last  year 
of  the  period  we  are  considering,  this  pelagic  catch  was  trebled. 

PERIOD  SUBSEQUENT  TO  1882. 

If  now  we  take  into  consideration  the  period  subsequent  to  1882  we  find  that  this 
increase  in  the  pelagic  catch  was  maintained  and  steadily  augmented  until  at  its 
maximum  in  the  year  1894  it  exceeded  by  twelve  times  the  normal  size  of  tlie  (jatcli  in 
the  former  period  of  e<|uilibriuin.  On  the  other  hand,  we  find  the  land  catch  which  was 
maiutained  at  its  normal  rate  until  the  year  1889,  suddeidy  fell  to  one-fifth  its  size  in 
1890,  and  has  remained  there  since. 

EXPANSION  OF  PELAGIC,  DECREASE  OF  LAND  SEALING. 

From  a  study  of  these  statistics  two  important  facts  are  made  clear:  First,  that 
there  has  been  since  1880  an  enormous  expansion  of  pelagic  sealing;  second,  that  there 
has  been  in  tiie  same  period  a  marked  decrease  in  the  product  of  land  sealing.  From 
w}>at  we  know  of  the  nature  of  the  two  industries  and  their  ettect  on  the  herd  we  are 
prepared  t«  find  these  two  facts  related  to  each  other  as  cause  and  effect. 

We  need  not  repeat  here  the  ]>roof  that  land  killing  has  had  nothing  to  do  with 
the  decdine  of  the  herd.  It  must  be  pointed  out,  however,  that  land  killing  is  strictly 
dependent  upon  the  condition  of  the  breeding  herd.  The  <[Uota  of  any  given  yesir 
represents  the  male  animals  which  survive  to  the  age  of  three  years  from  a  given 
birthrate.  As  the  quota  of  males  is,  so  will  be  the  increment  of  young  breeders  which 
the  herd  receives,  A  diminished  (piota  therefore  means  a  diminished  gain  to  the 
breeding  herd  for  the  same  year. 

CAUSE  OF  DECREASE  TO  BE  SOUGHT  IN  THE  BREEDING  HERD. 

Naturally,  the  cause  of  any  diminution  in  the  supply  of  killable  seals  must  be 
sought  for  in  the  condition  of  the  breeding  herd  three  years  previous.  From  this  fact 
it  becomes  apparent  that  for  tlie  cause  of  the  enormous  reduction  in  the  bachelor  herd 
seen  in  the  quota  of  1890  we  must  look  back  to  the  year  1887,  and  inasmuch  as  the 
decline  in  the  bachelor  herd  was  great  and  alarming  in  1890,  t'.e  depletion  of  the 
breeding  herd  in  1887,  when  the  seals  for  this  quota  were  born,  must  have  been  equally 
great  and  striking.  The  date  of  tlie  decline  in  the  herd  must,  therefore,  fall  prior  to 
the  year  1887. 

From  what  has  been  said  about  the  relation  of  the  bachelor  herd  to  the  breeding 
herd  it  must  also  be  plain  that  no  serious  diminution  had  occurred  in  the  birth  rsite 
prior  to  1882,  else  it  would  not  have  been  possible  to  maintain,  as  was  done  until  1889, 
by  any  possible  moans  the  killing  of  100,000  animals  of  no  nuitter  what  age  or  size. 

THE   BEGINNING   OF   THE   DECLINE. 

We  may  therefore  assume  that  the  decrease  in  the  breeding  herd  began  some- 
where between  1880  and  1887,    It  is  impossible  to  locate  the  exact  date.    We  have 


i| 


EFFECTS   OF    PELACJIC    KILLING. 


151 


assumed  the  years  1S82-1885  as  the  approximate  date,  becaust'  in  the  latter  year  it 
was  necessary  to  greatly  increase  the  number  of  drives  and  the  nunibei'  of  iiauling 
grounds  driven  from  to  get  the  regular  cjuota.  This  will  be  apparent  from  an  inspec- 
tion of  -lie  [(receding  table.  The  cause  of  this  scarcity  of  killablc  seals  must  ne(;e8'- 
sarily  date  back  three  years,  or  to  1882.  Moreovei-,  within  this  period  occurred  the 
extension  of  the  operations  of  pelagic  sealing  into  Bering  Sea.  Again,  in  the  year 
1882,  the  pelagic  catch  was  trebled  in  size  and  thereafter  continued  to  increase,  while 
from  the  steady  retardation  of  the  date  at  which  the  quota  could  be  tilled  and  the 
increased  number  of  drives  necessary,  tl)«'  bachelor  herd  as  steadily  iU'clin»'d. 

PELAGIC  SEALING  AS  A  CHECK  FROM   1871-1880. 

During  the  long  period  fiom  1871  to  1880,  we  may  infer  that  the  pelagic  catch 
had  no  influence  on  the  herd  except  i)erhap8  with  other  causes  to  neutralize  possible 
increase.  With  the  rise  of  the  catch  to  15,000  in  1882,  wc  may  assume  that  the  strain 
was  too  great  and  that  the  ctpiililuium  was  broken.  The  further  increase  to  24,000 
in  188')  intensitied  the  decline,  and  when  in  1887  the  pelagic  catch  reached  40,000  it 
became  serious. 

In  estimating  the  intluence  of  the  pelagic  catch  in  these  early  days  it  must 
always  be  borne  in  miiul  that  the  catch  as  recorded  is  only  a  part  of  the  loss  which 
the  herd  sustained  through  ])elagic  sealing,  it  will  never  be  possil)le  to  estimate  the 
loss,  due  to  the  killing  of  animals  which  were  not  recovered,  but  that  it  was  great  we 
have  no  reason  to  doubt,  and  it  nuist  not  be  left  out  of  the  account. 

IRREGULAR  QUOTA  SINCE  1890. 

Since  the  year  1890  the  results  of  land  killing  can  not  be  taken  as  an  index  of  the 
condition  of  the  herd  from  year  to  year.  lu  the  years  1891-1S9;5  land  killing  was 
arbitrarily  contracted  under  the  mo<lHs  vivendi.  The  (piotas  of  1894  and  1895  were 
iiirtuenced  by  the  changed  methods  of  driving  practiced  in  these  years,  and  by  the 
heavy  pelagic  catches  of  1890  and  1891  lesulting  in  the  starvation  of  pups  in  these 
years.  Tiie  quotas  of  189ti  and  1897  have  been  in  turn  slightly  influenced  by  the 
protection  afforded  by  th«  modus  Vivendi,  which  reduced  in  a  measure  the  i)elagic 
catch  of  1892  and  189.'},  thus  saving  i)ups  from  starvation.  The  results  of  the  heavy 
pelagic  catches  of  1895  and  '  39t)  have  yet  to  show  thcmsehes  in  the  coming  quotiis 
of  1898  and  1899. 

PELAGIC  SEALING  AND  THE  COMMANDER  HERD. 

We  may  here,  for  the  sake  of  illustration,  compare  similarly  the  land  and  sea 
cat(!hes  f'nun  the  ('ommander  herd.  Pelagic  sealing  began  on  this  herd  in  1891.  As 
the  fleet  was  a  large  one,  its  results  have  been  nu>re  rapid  and  disastrous  than  in 
connection  with  the  Pribilof  herd.    The  following  are  the  compiirative  figures: 

I'dan'ir  ralcli  of  CommaiiiUv  herd,  lS9t-lS!i7. 


Year. 

'      S..n 

liillilljr. 

I.iniil 
killing 

1891 

18U2 

iti<i:t 

...     8,4;k 
(Hi,  14:1 

3(i,8|-> 
;il,  244 

;t'.>  i'8(i 

1894 

. .      79.  Ma 

27.  287 

Vulir. 


18«.'i. 
I89(t. 
1897. 


Sril 
killiii;: 


;i7.(i;i,"i 

24,191 
l»,  8(11 


LkkiI 
killing:. 

17,719 

i:t,r>i(i 

1 1, 3H5 


152  THE    FUR   SEALS    OK   THE    PRHlILOr    ISLANDS. 

THE    INTERRELATION  OF  PELAGIC  AND  LAND  CATCHES. 

The  relation  of  tlie  pelagic  catcli  to  tlie  land  catch  is  here  well  illustrated.  The 
catch  in  1891  was  small.  Its  effect  on  the  bachelor  herd  was  .slight  and  together  with 
the  larger  catch  of  18!)2  accounts  for  the  reduction  from  3«,000  to  31,000  in  the  laud 
catch.  Bearing  in  mind  the  fact  that  the  really  important  eflfect  of  the  pelagic  catch 
of  any  year  is  only  seen  in  the  herd  of  killable  seals  after  three  years,  we  are  ])reparcd 
to  iind  the  first  marked  reduction  in  1895,  and  are  not  disappointed.  The  quota  of 
1895  is  less  than  half  the  quota  of  1891.  Since  1894  the  pelagic  catch  from  the 
Commander  herd  has  rapidly  declined,  showing  how  pelagic  sealing  has  exhausted  its 
own  resources.  Its  catch  of  1897  on  the  Asiatic  side  is  about  one-sixth  the  size  of 
its  catch  for  1891. 

In  the  case  of  the  Pribilof  herd  the  result  has  not  been  so  striking.  As  against 
01,838  seals  taken  in  1894  we  have  134,321  taken  in  1897.  But  the  results  of  the 
modus  Vivendi,  the  closed  /.one  and  the  closed  season  are  seen  in  this  herd.  The 
Commander  herd  lias  had  no  modus  vivendi  or  closed  season,  and  the  protected  zone 
has  been  but  one-half  as  great  as  that  of  the  Pribilof  herd. 

The  example  of  the  Con)mander  herd  strengthens  the  evidence  in  the  case  of 
the  Pribilof.  With  the  former,  as  with  the  latter,  the  decline  of  the  herd  and  the 
expansion  of  pelagic  sealing  practically  go  together.  If  no  other  proof  was  available 
than  what  these  figures  adduce  we  must  be  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  pelagic 
sealing  has  been  the  cause  of  the  decline. 


fjt 


!■ 


.  i 


('  II  A  I'  T  K  11    XII, 

THE  EFFECT  OF  PELAGIC  SEALING. 

PELAGIC  SEALING  INVOLVES  THE  KILLING  OF  FEMALES. 

Ill  the  foregoiiiy  discussion  we  have  assumed  for  the  time  being  tiiat  pehigic 
scaling  has  been  the  cause  of  tiie  decline  in  tlie  fur-seal  herd.  The  relation  of  the 
laud  catch  to  the  sea  catch  is  sucli  as  to  lead  inevitably  to  this  conclusion,  lint  there 
remain  other  and  better  reasons  for  holding  pelagic  sealing  resjionsible  for  the 
decline. 

As  has  been  already  shown,  only  males  are  killed  on  land;  the  females  are  not 
disturbed.  On  the  other  hand,  at  sea  animals  of  evcrj  age  and  condition,  and  of 
both  sexes,  are  taken.  In  the  water  it  is  impossible  to  distinguish  I  he  sexes,  .'ind  all 
animals  seen  are  killed  if  possible.  On  land  the  habits  of  the  animals  are  such  th.^t 
the  males  can  be  readily  separated  and  handled  without  disturbance  to  the  feiii;iles. 

PELAGIC   SEALING   AND   THE   SEALING   OF   THE   SOUTH   SEAS. 

With  the  above  contrast  between  land  and  sea  killing  in  mind,  we  may  pause  for 
a  moment  to  consider  the  strange  proposition  put  forward  in  the  IJritish  contention 
before  the  Paris  Tribunal,  that  "the  methods  practiced  on  the  Pribilof  Islands  and 
those  practiced  in  the  southern  hemisphere"  were  parallel  in  results.  This  was  in 
answer  to  the  contention  by  the  Tiiited  States  that  pelagic  sealing  was  essentially 
the  same  as  the  sealing  which  destroyed  herds  of  the  Antarctic.  On  the  contrary, 
say  the  British  commissioners  in  1801,  the  history  of  the  rookeries  of  the  south  seas 
proves  incontestably  that  "excessive  slaughter  on  shore  in  the  entire  absence  of 
pelagic  sealing  results  in  commercial  extermination.*' ' 

The  absence  of  pelagic  sealing  in  the  southern  hemisphere  has  nothing  to  do 
with  the  matter.  It  would  be  absurd  to  expect  pelagic  sealing  there  when  there  was 
nothing  to  prevent  the  sealers  from  landing  and  directly  invading  the  rookeries. 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  there  would  have  been  no  jielagic  sealing  in  the  northern 
hemisphere  had  it  been  possible  for  any  who  might  choose  to  do  .so  to  land  and  kill 
females  on  shore. 

METHODS  OF  SOUTHERN  SEALING. 

In  the  case  of  the  rookeries  of  the  southern  henii.sphere,  men  armed  with  clubs 
or  firearms  were  landed  on  the  rookeries,  who  killed  all  the  animals  they  could 
secure,  making  no  distinctions  as  to  sex,  age,  or  condition.  In  a  day  or  a  week  they 
returned  to  complete  the  work  of  destruction  if  it  was  not  complete  at  the  tirst  trial. 
It  must  appear  from  a  candid  contrast  of  such  slaughter  that  it  has  nothing  in 
common  with  land  killing  on  the  Pribilof  Islands  beyond,  perhaps,  the  fact  that 
in  both  cases  the  killing  is  done  on  shore  and  with  a  club. 


!l 


'  Hep.  of  Hiit.  Coniiii.,  Fur  Sonl  Arlt.,  vol.  0,  p.  217. 


153 


If!' 


'     1 


I' 


tf 


154 


THE    FUR   SEALS   OF   THE    PRIBILOF   ISLANI>8. 


Suppose  that  a  crew  of  25  or  30  men  were  lauded  in  July  on  Reef  rookery  of  St. 
Paul;  that  these  men  entered  the  breedinj?  grounds  and  slaughtered  every  animal 
they  could  reach,  keeping  up  the  operation  day  after  day  as  new  animals  came  ashore 
or  until  no  more  were  found,  returning  the  following  season  to  pick  up  any  remnant 
which  might  be  left.  This  would  be  the  method  of  slaughter  in  the  southern 
hemisphere  transferred  to  the  northern. 

"INDISCRIMINATE,"   NOT   "  ETiCESSIVE." 

The  trouble  with  the  contention  of  the  British  commissioners  lies  in  the  use  of 
"excessive''  for  "indiscriminate.''  It  was  not  the  contention  of  the  ITnited  States 
that  the  land  killing  of  the  south  seas  was  identical  in  method  with  open-sea  killing 
in  the  north,  but  rather  that  the  results  were  identical.  Both  were  indiscriminate 
killing,  and,  as  a  result,  it  was  to  be  expected  that  the  fate  of  the  southern  rookeries 
would  overtake  those  of  the  north  if  such  slaughter  were  continued.  That  the  herds 
of  the  north  have  lasted  longer  than  those  of  the  south  is  simply  the  results  of  their 
protection  on  land.  Were  it  possible  for  the  pelagic  sealers  to  land  on  the  Pribilof 
and  Commander  islands,  they  could  accomplish  in  one  season  what  it  has  taken  a 
dozen  years  to  accomplisli  contending  with  the  uncertainties  of  the  sea. 

PREPONDERANCE  OF  FEMALES. 

Before  the  Paris  Tribunal,  and  even  subseijuent  to  it,  the  claim  has  been  made 
that  land  killing  was  excessive  in  its  reduction  of  male  life,  and  had  been  in  large 
measure,  if  not  wholly,  responsible  for  the  decline.  We  have  already  discussed  the 
latter  part  of  this  contention  and  shown  its  untenable  character.  The  fact,  however, 
is  freely  admitted  that  the  killing  on  land  had  greatly  reduced  the  male  life  of  the 
herd.  The  investigations  of  the  past  season,  showing  that  about  twenty-nine  males 
out  of  thirty  born  are  destined  to  be  supertluous,  indicate  how  this  has  been  possible 
without  aft'eoting  the  herd.  Since  the  islands  came  into  the  possession  of  the  United 
States  nearly  3,000,000  male  seals  have  been  taken  on  land,  while  no  females  whatever 
have  been  killed. 

The  point  we  wish  to  make  clear  is,  that  with  such  an  abstraction  of  male  life  it 
niiturally  results  that  the  herd  as  a  whole  under  normal  conditions  must  show  a  large 
excess  of  females.  Notwithstanding  this  self  evident  fact,  it  has  been  persistently 
contended  by  those  interested  in  pelagic  sealing  that  the  i»elagic  catch  contained  no 
preponderance  of  females;  that  in  fact  the  sexes  as  found  and  taken  at  sea  were 
pract"  ally  equal. 

THE  SEALING  CAPTAINS'  RECORD  Of  SEXES  TAKEN. 

To  illustrate  this,  we  may  saj'  that  under  the  regulations  of  the  Paris  award  it 
was  made  obligatory  on  the  captains  of  sealing  vessels  to  keep  a  record  of  the  sexes 
of  all  animals  taken.  It  was  manitestly  absurd  to  suppose  that  men  engaged  in  a 
business  like  pelagic  sealing  would  take  the  trouble  to  report  accurately  facts  which 
must  injure  their  business.  The  result  has  been  that  whenever  the  sex  returns  have 
been  supplied  by  the  sealers  themselves  the  sexes  have  been  reported  so  nearly  equal 
that  the  proportioa  of  females  has  on  the  aver.ige  rarely  exceeded  55  per  cent.  What 
we  have  said  regarding  the  relation  of  land  killing  to  the  proportion  of  the  sexes  is 
sutticient  i)roof  of  the  falsity  of  these  returns.    But  we  also  note  that  during  the 


■«mm 


THK    SEX    OF    PKLAGIC    SKINS. 


166 


peiiod  covered  by  these  retnnis  by  tlie  sealers,  showiiifj  an  excess  of  no  more  than 
j")  per  cent  of  fe.nales,  it  was  possible  to  secure  only  81,000  mules  on  land,  whereas 
187,000  animals,  males  and  females,  were  taken  at  sea.  That  4.")  ])er  cent  of  this  latter 
number  should  have  been  males  is  simply  out  of  the  question. 

CUSTOM-HOUSE  EXAMINATION  BY  EXPERTS. 

Fortunately,  however,  we  are  not  force<l  to  rely  merely  upon  inference  or  upon 
the  reports  of  interested  parties  for  our  information  in  this  matter.  For  the  past  f(UU' 
seasons  the  United  States  Government  has  provided  for  the  examination,  by  experts, 
of  the  pelagic  catches  of  American  vessels  iu  the  customhouses  on  their  iiindini>;. 
These  returns  are  as  follows  for  the  seasons  1894-18!>7 : 

lupvrtH  xex  veiiiniK  for  Ameriean  vatch. 

1894.  I'.Tcciit.  I  189(5.  IVrcciit. 

Xortliwost  coast 88     Northwest  const 93 

Bering  Sea 09  ,  Bering  Sea 75 

1895.  1897. 

Northwest  coast IX     Northwest  coast 9,'l 

llcring  Soa TA 

CONTRAST  OF  SEX  RETURNS. 

With  these  figures  may  be  compared  the  percentages  furnished  by  the  logs  of  the 
captains  of  the  Canadian  sealing  fleet,  which  we  are  forced  to  use,  as  (Ireat  liiitain 
has  refused  to  permit  the  insi»ectiou  of  the  Canadian  catch  in  port.  No  returns  for 
these  vessels  are  available  for  the  Northwest  catch  until  the  si)ring  of  189(i,  when  the 
percentage  of  feniales  is  given  as  40.  With  it  may  be  compared  the  exi)ert  report  of 
y;?  per  cent  for  the  American  vessels  on  tl»e  same  grounds  in  the  same  season.  I'or 
the  three  seasons,  1894-1896,  the  Canadian  reports  for  the  IJering  Sea  catch  are 
respectively  55,  55,  and  61  per  cent  females.  The  vessels  of  the  American  fleet  were 
eng<aged  daring  the  same  time  and  side  by  side  with  the  Canadian  vessels.  The  latter 
average  52  per  cent  of  females  and  the  former  80  per  cent.     Comment  is  not  necessary. 

This  high  proportion  of  females  in  the  pelagic  catch  is  borne  out  by  the  expert 
examinations  of  furriers  iu  liondon.    See  affidavits  in  Appendix  II. 

THE  SEX  OF  SALTED  SKINS  EASILY  DETERMINED. 

It  may  be  remarked  that  it  is  entirely  feasL'ble  to  determine  the  sex  «»f  the  salted 
skin,  as  reference  to  Mr.  Townsend's  paper  on  this  subject  published  in  Part  III  will 
show.  There  is,  therefore,  no  doubt  of  the  accuracy  of  the  results  of  the  customhouse 
examinations. 

THE  INVESTIGATIONS  OF  ALEXANDER  AND  HALKETT. 

With  a  view  to  studying  the  operations  of  pelagic  sealing  iu  1895,  Mr.  A.  t» 
Alexander  was  detailed  to  make  the  cruise  on  one  of  the  pelagic  sealing  vessels.'     The 
results  of  his  observations  are  published  el-sewhere  in  this  report  and  contain  the  most 
complete  account  of  the  methods  and  operations  of  pelagic  sealing  yet  obtained.    Mr. 
Alexander  found  in  the  cat(!h  of  the  Dora  Sieward,  numbering  about  l,.'iOO  seals,  62 


1^ 


n 


>  A  comitleto  Account  of  the  criiise  will  he  t'ound  in  Part  III  of  this  report. 


I'.;  I 


k 


15(J 


THE    FUR   SEALS   OK   THE    I'RIUILOP   ISLANDS. 


l>ei*  cent  nf  females.  The  followiii{>;  year  Mr.  Andrew  llalkett,  inakint;  a  aiiiiilnr 
iiiveistigatiuii  for  the  Canadian  government,  I'ound  in  tlie  catch  of  the  same  vessel 
also  in  Bering  Heti  the  percentage  of  females  t(»  be  <S4.' 

The  ditterence  between  the  resnits  of  these  two  investigations  shows  that  the 
proportion  of  the  sexes  may  vary  considerably  from  season  to  season  and  between 
dirt'erent  vessels.  It  must  not  be  forgotten,  however,  that  these  reports  are  based  (Hi 
the  catches  of  individual  vessels.  The  returns  for  the  tieet  of  l.S  American  vessels  in 
1895  gives  the  i>ercentage  of  females  as  73,  wiiile  for  the  fleet  of  13  vessels  in  18JM5  it 
is  75  per  cent.  It  is  probably  not  possible  to  determine  more  definitely  the  exact 
jn'oportion  of  females,  but  these  Hgures  are  sulBcient  with  the  known  preponderani^e 
of  the  fenuile  sex  to  show  that  the  proportion  is  large. 

THE  FEMALES  MORE  EASILY  TAKEN. 

It  may  be  noted  that  the  habits  of  the  animals  are  such  as  to  make  it  probable 
that  were  the  sexes  equally  numerous  at  sea  the  females  would  be  taken  in  greater 
numbers,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  ott"  the  Northwest  Coast  the  female  is  heavy 
with  young,  and  consequently  more  sluggish  than  the  young  males.  In  liering  Sea 
it  is  the  nmther  driven  by  the  necessity  of  nourishing  her  offspring  that  is  found 
constantly  on  the  feeding  grounds.  In  either  case  her  necessities  and  habits  leave 
her  the  easy  victim  of  the  pelagic  hunter. 

THE  CAPTURE  OF  MALES  NOT  IMPORTANT. 

We  have  not  taken  into  account  the  fact  that  a  certain  number  of  males  are 
necessarily  taken  by  the  pelagic  sealers.  It  is  unnecessary  to  do  so.  With  the  males 
taken  in  this  way  we  have  no  concern.  Their  capture  decreases  the  profits  of  the 
lessees  of  the  islands  and  the  revenue  of  the  Government,  but  does  not  aflect  the  herd 
any  nu)re  than  does  the  killing  of  nniles  on  land.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  they  may 
be  left  out  of  consideration  in  this  discussion. 

The  important  matter  is  that  of  the  animals  taken  at  sea  by  the  pelagic  sealers 
from  (52  to  84  per  cent  are  females.  It  may  be  remarked  here  that  we  are  not  con- 
<;erned  to  make  this  percentage  of  ft>nui1es  high.  Were  it  a  fact  that  among  the 
animals  taken  at  sea  the  males  were  in  the  excess  of  the  females,  the  ditterence  would 
be  merely  one  of  degree.  So  long  as  feinalei;  in  any  number  are  taken,  the  herd  is 
injured,  and  the  injury  is  greater  in  proportion  as  the  number  killed  is  greater. 

POSSIBILITY  OF  EQUILIBRIUM  UNDER  PELAGIC  SEALING. 

Much  has  been  said  of  late  by  those  interested  in  the  retention  of  pelagic  sealing 
about  the  tendency  to  eiiuilibrium  which  is  to  be  found  in  the  rapid  falling  ott' of  the 
l)elagic  «!atch.  In  ISDIi  Professor  Thompson  of  the  British  Connnission  professed  to 
believe  that  this  e(|uilibrium  had  then  been  reached,  and  that  we  might  under  present 
conditions  ho)>e  for  a  perpetuation  of  the  numbers  of  the  herd  as  found  in  that  year.' 
The  investigation  of  181>7,  showing  a  nuirked  decrease  from  the  condition  of  1897, 
demonstrated  clearly  that  this  was  a  mistake,  a  fact  whi<>h  Professor  Thomp.son 
admits  in  his  1897  report. 


'  See  llalkett  MSS.,  Report  1890. 

'Tlioiiipson,  Misainn  to  liering  Sen,  1896,  p.  3.5. 


THE    EQUILIUKIITM   THEORY. 
THE  EQUILIBRIUM  A  THEORETICAL  FACT. 


167 


There  IH,  liowevcr,  u  t'crtaiii  iiinoiiiit  of  truth  in  this  iUeji  of  e(|uilibriiiiii,  uiid  we 
iiiiiy  iiiqiiiie  whiit  it  is  and  wliat  will  be  the  coiiditioii  of  the  herd  and  of  the  industry 
of  |)ehigi('  sealin;;  when  it  is  reached. 

As  already  indicated,  the  condition  of  the  t'nr-.seal  herd  is  determined  by  the 
rehition  of  its  various  losses  to  its  sinjjle  source  of  j;ain,  the  yearly  accession  ofyoniiK 
;{-yearold  breeders,  i-'roni  the  history  of  the  herd  in  the  jteriod  from  1S71  to  l.SSO 
we  know  that  the  vaiious  losses  which  tin;  herd  sutferetl  about  balanced  its  gain,  and 
there  was  neither  increase  nor  diminution.  From  the  nature  of  the  losses  which  the 
herd  is  subject,  to  we  may  infer  that  in  its  less  crowded  condition  within  the  past 
few  years,  they  have  been  somewhat  mitigated.  This  would  be  esjiecially  true  of  the 
loss  through  the  parasitic  worm  and  through  tights  and  struggles  on  the  breeding 
grounds.  Tnder  normal  «H»nditi(ms  in  its  present  state,  tiie  herd  might  be  expected 
to  increase  by  a  slight  margin  each  year.  That  it  does  not  so  increase  is  duo  to 
the  action  of  pelagic  sealing.  The  measure  of  this  possible  increase  in  the  herd  is 
the  margin  of  ditVerence  between  the  number  of  3  year-old  fenuiles  which  enter  the 
breeding  grounds  in  any  season  and  the  total  number  of  deaths  resulting  to  the  adult 
breeding  herd  from  old  age  and  the  inci<lents  of  the  sea. 

DEATH  FROM  OLD  AGE. 

If  we  assume  for  the  breeding  fenuile  an  aver.age  life  of  thirteen  years,  this 
would  give  a  breeding  life  of  ten  years,  and  the  death  rate  from  old  age  must  each 
year  amount  to  about  10  per  cent  of  the  breeding  herd.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is 
clear  from  the  proportion  between  the  breeding  herd  of  130,000  an<l  the  (piotai  of 
liO,000  for  the  present  year  that  the  pro])(n'tion  of  jmps  which  survive  from  any  birth 
rate  to  the  age  of  .'5  years  is  about  one-third  to  one-fourth  of  the  total  number.  The 
<piota  of  the  present  time  is  therefore  roughly  a  measure  of  the  gain  of  the  herd,  as 
an  approximately  e(pial  number  of  young  females  must  survive. 

A  HYPOTHETICAL  CASE. 

As  an  illustration,  let  us  assume  for  any  given  year  a  total  breeding  herd  ot 
180,000  cows.  Of  these  loOjtMK)  would  be  adults  and  30,000  young  cows  coming  into 
the  herd  for  the  llrst  tinu'  as  breeders  and  representing  the  normal  gain  of  the  li'-rd. 
Asanming  that,  as  a  result  of  storms  at  sea,  old  age,  and  attacks  of  enemies,  10  per 
cent  of  the  herd  are  lost  in  the  winter  migration,  this  would  mean  the  absence  of 
18,000  animals  for  tiie  succeeding  season,  to  cover  which  and  provide  fctr  continued 
increase  the  herd  iec»'ives  a  gain  of  .MMMK)  young  animals.  The  net  gain  to  the  herd 
is,  therefore,  r_*,000  breeding  females.    This  is  a  liberal  «'ftinnite  of  gain. 


THE  POSSIBLE  ABSTRACTION  OF  FEMALES. 

If  the  killing  of  female  seals  produced  oidy  the  direct  loss  entailed  by  their 
absence,  this  removal  of  12,000  females  from  the  hyjtothetical  stock  of  180  (MtO 
breeders  would  leave  the  herd  in  a  state  of  e(|uilibriuni.  But  for  each  life  thus  lost 
results  the  death  of  an  unborn  pup,  and  with  such  part  of  the  12,000  females  as  are 
taken  in  Bering  Sea  nursing  pups  die  also.    This  secondary  loss  is  felt  later  in  a 


^=>np 


158 


THE   FUR   SEALS  OP   THE   rRIHILOF   ISLANDS. 


'■    1 


(liiiiiniHiied  ac(;usHioii  of  bi-uediiif;  3  year-olds.  In  other  words,  the  yearly  increiiicnt 
of  'tO.OOO  could  not  ha  maintained,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact  the  taking  of  12,0U() 
females  would  cause  the  herd  to  decline. 

THE  SECONDARY  LOSS  OF  PUPS. 

We  can  estimate  approxinuitely  this  secondary  loss.  For  the  li;,000  fewulea 
killed  an  e(|ual  number  of  unborn  youni>'  are  destroyed,  and  if  one-half  of  them  are 
killed  during  the  summer,  0,000  adtlitional  young  will  starve;  in  all,  18,000  young  arc 
lost.  Hut  as  only  one  third  of  them  would  naturally  survive  to  the  age  of  3  years,  and 
but  one  half  of  these  wouhl  be  breeders,  the  total  loss  would  be  about  3,000.  This, 
at  least,  must  be  deducted  from  the  12,000,  leaving  0,000  females  which  can  be  taken 
from  the  herd  and  still  leav<>  it  in  a  state  of  eciuilibrium.  The  abstraction  of  fen)ales, 
therefore,  which  the  herd  of  180,00(>  breeding  females  can  stand  without  declining,  is 
not  to  exceed  ."»  per  cent. 

We  do  not  put  this  percentage  forward  as  absolute.  Its  value  rests  solely  upon 
the  percentage  of  young  which  survive  to  the  age  of  3  years.  We  Lave  assumed  that 
one  third  so  survive,  and  this  is  i)robably  a  maximum,  but  for  the  purposes  of  the 
calculation  it  will  answer. 

To  determine  whether  or  not  the  ett'ect  of  pelagic  sealing  is  such  as  to  warrant  the 
supi)osition  that  a  state  of  e<iuilibriuni  has  been  or  is  likely  to  be  reached  soon,  we 
have  only  to  refer  to  the  pelagic^  catch  for  the  yeai"  1896.  The  summer  catch  of  1890 
in  Bering  Sea  numbered  2i).'>0{>,  of  which  84  per  cent  were  females.  The  spring  catch 
of  the  same  year  was  14,4(;0,  of  which  93  per  cent  were  females,  making  in  all  38,000 
females  from  a  herd  of  about  IGO,000,  api>roxinnitely  24  per  cent,  with  additional  loss 
to  appear  in  1899  from  the  destruction  of  young  life. 

PELAGIC  CATCH  STILL  INVOLVES  i6  PER  CENT  OF  ALL  FEMALES. 

In  view  of  the  heavy  falling  off  whi(^h  (lelagic  sealing  has  undergone  in  1897,  we 
may  carry  out  tiie  comi)utation  for  tliis  season  also.  There  were  taken  in  the  spring 
ot  1897  oil'  the  northwest  coast  7,.S,")7,  of  wliiiih  93  percent,  or  7,300,  were  fenuiles.  In 
Bering  Sea  10,4.54  were  taken,  of  which,  using  the  percentage  of  189(5,  which  is  low,  84 
per  cent,  oi'  1.'{,S00  were  females,  making  in  all  for  1897  21,000  fenuiles.  This  for 
a  herd  of  130,000  is  1(1  per  cent.  It  is  evident  that  pelagic  sealing  must  still  fall 
considerably  before  equilibrium  is  reached. 

IT  MUST  FA'^L  TO  ONE-THIRD   BEFORE  EQUILIBRIUM  COMES. 

In  short  it  would  appear  that  the  pelagic  catch  mast  fall  to  about  one-third  its 
present  size  before  the  decline  in  the  herd  ceases.  It  is  doubtful  whether  such  a 
reduction  will  result.  The  haunts  of  the  seals  are  too  convenient.  The  same  vessels 
may  not  go  out  each  year,  but  enough  will  be  ready  to  risk  the  chance  of  a  remuner- 
ative catch  to  keep  the  herd  on  the  down  grade.  The  very  reduction  of  the  fleet 
in  one  season  will  stimulate  the  business  for  the  next,  each  vessel  hoping  that  its 
neighbors  will  drop  out,  thus  leaving  a  clear  held.  It  is  probable  that  so  long  as  the 
herd  exists  theie  will  be  a  sufficient  number  of  adventurous  spirits  to  prey  upon  it 
and  continue  its  decline.  The  historj'  of  the  repeated  unsuccessful  attempts  to  secure 
seals  on  the  rookeries  of  the  south  seas  fully  illustrate  what  may  be  expected  in  the 
north.  If  the  spirit  of  adventure  is  sufficiently  strong  to  lead  to  the  fitting  out  of  a 
schooner,  as  was  done  in  1897,  to  visit  the  Galapagos  Islands  on  the  possibility  of 


KQUIMKRII'M    MEANS  COMUERCIAL   Rl'IN. 


1')!) 


taking  Hviilrt  there,  \v«>  may  nut  expect  that  the  iiioro  ueeessihle  haunts  of  the  seals  of 
the  North  J'acitU'  will  be  abandoned. 

THE  EQUILIBRIUM  COULD  NOT  BE  MAINTAINED. 

In  a  theoietit-al  sense  there  is  a  state  of  e(|nilibriuni  of  the  herd  whirh  is  com- 
patible with  a  limited  amount  of  pelagic  sealing.  The  condition  of  this  ei|uilibrinin 
we  have  just  discussed.  We  know  it  nnist  be  too  low  to  leave  any  profit  either  in 
pela;>'ic  sealing  or  in  land  sealin*;.  Pelagic  sealing:,  already  unprotltable,  must  be 
reduced  to  less  than  one  third  its  present  extent  before  this  state  of  equilibrium  is 
reached.  No  manner  of  protection  (tould  enforce  the*  necessary  limits  to  such  pelai;i«; 
sealin};'  iind  they  are  not  self-adjustable.  Furthermore,  the  herd  under  such  conditions 
would  not  be  worth  protectinjj;  on  land.  Any  such  protection  must  be  maintained  at 
a  loss  to  the  Tuited  States.  To  remove  it  fr(»ni  the  herd  even  for  a  short  peiiod  of 
time  would  leave  the  breeding-  haunts  of  the  aninmis  open  to  invasion,  and  the 
destruction  so  vigorously  begun  at  sea  would  be  speedily  comideted  on  land. 

EQUILIBRIUM  EXISTS  ONLY  FAR  BELOW  COMMERCIAL  RUIN. 

Thus,  while  an  ei|uilibrium  is  possible,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  it  exists  only 
far  below  the  |)oint  of  (;oinmercial  profit,  and  must  prove  unsatisfactory  either  to  the 
interests  of  the  I'uited  States  or  to  those  of  the  pelagic  sealer.' 

''I'|]i8  (!i|iiilil)i'iiiiii  III' the  riii'-Huul  hunt  is  a  more  liKurcof  Hp<MM'h,  ii  Juggling  witli  worils  fur 
<U|>liiiii:itic  piirpo.seH.  In  tln'  cdiii'liisiuiis  of  tlio  rucriit  oiifereiire  of  oxperts  iit  Wiisliiugton  tlio 
IKiHHiliility  of  tliiH  tliooiftii'iil  «'i|iMliliriiiui  wan  ii('kn(>\vlcil<;i'il  \t\  liotli  Niilt'H,  IxMMime  self-uvidi'iit 
whatovoi'  tlio  coiiilitiiiiis.  Hut  llic  fiict  wiik  not  coiiHichM'oiI  in  iiny  way  i)ertiiituit,  as  ■■<M|uili))riiim"  in 
tlii.s  8C1IS0  is  only  aniitlii'r  iianii;  fiir  coniiiiercial  <leHtrni'tioii.  'I'Iiih  ailniJHsion  tluit  pi'lagic  soaling 
It'iids  to  leasr  as  tlu!  liciil  ilit-s  nnt  lias  however  licrn  nsnl  l»y  tl:i'  Canadian  (JovcnniuMit  ua  a  pretext 
for  declining  to  taUo  immediate  action  in  the  fnr-H«al  matter.  (See  Senate  l»oe.  10.  l-'ifty-lifth 
('oiigrei's,  rteeond  seasioii,  IS!)",  ]».  (>,">.) 

'I'liia  theory  of  ei|Uililirinm  has  ri'eeiveil  an  attention  wliolly  undeHOived.  In  hi.s  report  for 
t8!l6  ProfoisHor  'I'liompson  sujj;;;esled  that  the  f'c|nililirinm  was  then  learhed.  lie  was  forced  in  the 
inventigations  of  1807  to  admit  that  tlie  lierd  liiid  sntVered  a  measuralde  decline  since  18!i(i.  Not- 
\vith8tauding  this  fa<'t  we  linil  tlie  following  statement  in  the  concluding  paragraph  of  his  leport 
for  ISit":  "A  remedy  lias  already  lieen  aiitoniatiially  applied  in  the  redaction  of  the  pelagii'  Meet  to 
less  than  one-half  its  niimliers  of  a  year  ago.  The  tendency  is  to  eiinililirinni.  The  total  pelagic 
catch  for  this  year  is  not  likely  to  exceed  L'O.OOO.  against  :Ui,(«)0  la.st  year,  and  it  may  he  that  with  a 
catch  so  greatly  diminishe<l  the  point  ol  e>|nilihrinm  ha>  at  length  lieen  attained." 

It  is  certainly  reinarkalde  that  I'l'ofessor  Thompson  should  s|)eak  of  coniniercial  destrnctiun  a.s  a 
'•remedy''  for  zoological  dostruition.  This  is  another  way  of  saying  that  ''death  cures  all  ills;" 
liut  that  mode  of  cure  does  iu>t  satisfy  the  friends  of  the  patient.  It  is,  moreover,  not  true  that  the 
point  of  equilihrinni  is  leacln^d,  nor  can  it  he  reaihed  until  tin;  catch  at  sea  falls  to  loss  than 
one-twentieth  of  the  actual  number  of  breeding  females.  I'tdagic  sealing  must  therefore  decline  to 
one-third  its  present  catch  before  the  eiiuilibrium  is  reached. 

The  liritish  (iovernmcut  is  not  unaware  of  thesis  farts,  but  to  give  t.heni  due  recognition  in 
action  would  interfere  with  the  national  policy  in  this  nuitter.  This  is  to  peruut  the  Canadian 
sealers  to  get  out  of  the  fur-seal  herd  everything  they  can  before  the  failure  of  the  herd  fr)ri-es  the 
allegeil  industry  wholly  luit  of  existence,  lu  other  words,  one  chief  function  of  Rritish  luiperialisni 
is  to  serve  as  a  "fence"  for  greedy  colonies  over  whose  actions  she  has  no  control.  We  find  no  mori' 
iittiug  words  to  characterize  the  attitude  of  (ireat  Britain  toward  this  fur-seal  (piestion  than  the 
words  of  Professor  Nicholson,  of  Kdinburgh:  "There  can  be  uo  (xnestion.  in  the  light  of  history, 
that  the  political  instinct  of  tlie  Knglish  people — or  to  adopt  the  popular  language  of  the  moment,  the 
original  sin  of  the  nation — is  to  covet  everything  of  its  neighbors  worth  coveting,  and  it  is  not 
content  until  the  sin  is  complete." 


!l  ■ 


hr^ 


n      1 


IGO 


THE    KUB   8KAL8   OF  THE   PKIHILOP   ISLANDS. 


THE  DESTRUCTION  OK  UNBORN  PUPS. 


Hitherto  wo  have  coiisidtMed  only  tlie  tlircct  UmH  to  the  hrvediii);  herd  rvHultiiiK 
iVoiu  the  killiiit;  of  t'riiiiUes.  Tlieru  Ih,  liowever,  uii  important  Hucoiulary  htMs  resulting 
troin  tlie  (leHtnietioii  of  the  yoiin^.  Not  only  is  the  adnlt  lenialc,  with  tlie  itoHsihility 
of  future  in«'reaHe  throii;;li  her,  htst  to  the  herd,  but  the  times  ami  seasons  of  her 
shiUKhtei'  are  such  that  her  unborn  and  lu>r  dependent  otlsprin|r  nuist  alike  die 
with  her. 

PREGNANT  AND    NURSING  FEMALES. 

T\w.  investigations  of  the  commission  as  to  tlio  condition  of  fcnnile  seals  taken  in 
liering  Hea  are  given  in  detail  in  a  special  paper  on  the  breeding  luibitH  of  the  seals, 
by  Mr.  Lucas,  in  Part  III  of  this  report.  We  may  hero  quoto  a  brief  summary  of 
the  reaults : 

A  totiil  ot'l'ti  I'ttmiilim  iiikoii  (liiriii);  tlio  HuiiHoiiHot'  lS!)r>  iiiul  ISJNi  liotwreii  AiiKHHt  lOiinil  Hi'|)t<'iiiliei' 
:i  wtM'o  (^xaiiiiiK'il.iind  may  lio  cDiiBidi'itMl  an  I'aiil.v  icprDHnntiiiK  thu  a^o  anil  coiitlitioii  nt'Houla  takoii  at 
Hca.  <M'  tlicm*  I7(i  tlu'io  witc  II  yeailiiijjH,  Nixtet'ii  L'-ycar-oldB,  ami  146  ovrr  1'  years  old.  All  ovri  2 
years  tdd  had  ItrmiKlit  forth  yoiiiijr  tho  sraMtii  In  whirh  tlii'y  wcru  takni,  and  151  of  thoHc  2  yiMirw  old 
and  u|>\vard  were  pregnant.  'I'hu  total  nnnilmr  of  HoaU  examined  whone  condition  was  at  all  uncortnin 
was  11,  and  7  of  thcso  were  L'-yuar-oliU  examined  before  .Vn^uot  22,  which  might  have  been 
impregnated  later  in  the  soaNOii. 

PELAGIC  SEALING  TAKES  COMPOUND  INTEREST. 

Thus  pelagi(!  sealing  eats  into  the  life  of  the  herd  at  compound  interest.  The 
rookeries  in  I8!>7  showed  a  direct  diminution  from  the  loss  of  females  killed  during 
August  and  September  of  18!M>  and  the  spring  of  I8!>7.  This  direct  loss  was  supple 
mented  by  the  al'terotVects  of  the  prenmture  destruction  if  the  young  born  in 
1804,  which  nianifesteil  itself  in  the  diiiiinished  quota  ol  liable  seals  and  in  the 
i'orrespondingly  diminished  iiuirement  of  young  breeder  In  like  manner  the 
future  will  show  the  continued  etfects  of  tho  destructive  industry.  For  the  pups 
starved  to  death  in  I8!)tt  and  those  starved  in  18!)7  the  rookeries  must  sufter  iu  1900 
and  1901  whether  pelagic  .sealing  continues  or  not. 

DESTRUCTION  OF  NURSING  PUPS. 

As  the  starvation  of  pui»8  has  been  the  source  of  a  great  deal  of  discussion,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  consider  tlu'  matter  in  some  detail.  It  was  strongly  contended  iu  the 
British  case  before  the  Paris  Tribunal  that  lu)  such  result  as  tho  starvation  of  the  pup 
followed  from  the  killing  of  the  mother  at  sea.  The  claim  of  the  United  States  that 
the  i)ups  wer*?  left  to  die  of  hunger  was  (leuominated  in  the  same  connection  as  "  a 
contention  wholly  Jiovel."'  It  was  further  asserted  that  "it  is  not  known  that  the 
breeding  females  go  to  sea  for  food  while  their  pups  are  dependent  upon  them."' 

PUPS  DEPENDENT  ON  MILK  UNTIL  DECEMBER. 

Ill  the  investigations  of  the  season  of  1896  these  subjects  received  special 
attention.  It  was  found  that  the  pups  continued  to  nurse  their  mothers  as  late  as  the 
.'jth  of  December,  being  ui»  to  that  time  wholly  dependent  upon  milk  for  nourishment. 


■British  Counter  Case,  Fur  Seal  Arb.,  Vol.  U,  pp.  179  and  183. 


I 


FKKDINO   OF  THE   8RAL8.  161 

Of  pups  killtMl  lor  «' Mini iiiiitioii  ilui'iii}r  S«;ptutiil>fr  iiiid  Octolu'r  soiiiu  wcit  lumMl 
to  foiitaiii  Irutn  oiiu  to  two  qiiiu-tH  of  rirli  milk,  the  it^siilt  in  fiu-li  nisc  of  a  siii^r|,>  hmmI. 
That  tlit>  iiiotliiT  seal,  an  animal  avfiagin);  70  ponntis  in  wt'ifrjit,  h1iom!<1  tontinui'  for 
upward  of  four  months  to  nourisii  hrr  yonnf;  in  this  niann«'r  without  fcolinK  is  siiDi- 
ciuntly  absiinl  on  t\w  facu  of  it.  Hut  tint  results  of  Mr.  Townstuul's  and  Mr.  Lucas's 
oxaniiiKition  of  adult  fcmalos  taken  on  tlie  feeding'  grounds  in  Kerin;;  Sea,  proven 
absolutely  that  tiie  nursing;  fenniles  ^in  to  sea  to  feed. 

THE  ABSENCE  OF  EXCREMENT. 

Ill  support  of  the  theory  that  the  females  do  not  leave  the  rookeries  to  feed  while 
their  jMips  arc  depenih^it  upon  them,  the  Kritish  eominissioiiers  of  ls<)l-0-' eited  tiio 
"abseneo  of  all  exciemeiit  on  the  breediiif;' places."'  What  t he  iiivestiKators  of  !H!t|-!tli 
did  or  did  not  see  we  do  not  know,  but  during  the  (tast  two  seasons  excrement  was 
Heeii  ill  quantities  both  on  the  breeding  grounds  and  on  the  hauling  grounds,  as  were 
also  spewings  eoiitainiiig  the  lioiies  and  tiesli  of  lish.  It  is  true  that  the  aggregate 
amount  of  exerement  seen  is  small  in  proportion  to  the  niimber  of  animals,  but  this  is 
due  in  all  probability  to  tiie  fa(;t  that  the  fur  seal  digests  its  foo<i  for  the  most  part,  if 
not  wholly,  before^  eoiiiiug  ashore,  and  as  a  natural  result  most  of  the  exerement  is 
voided  in  the  water. 

THE  SUPPOSED  NOKFEEDING  OF  FEMALES. 

A  second  jiroof  adduced  in  support  <  f  the  nonfeeding  of  the  females  was  that  no 
food  had  been  found  in  the  stomachs  of  the  limited  number  of  these  animals  examined 
up  to  that  time.  It  was  known  tliivt  the  stomachs  of  the  ba(;lielors  \v;'re  found  to  be 
em])ty  at  all  times  during  the  seasoi:  It  was  further  absolutely  known  that  thea<Iult 
bulls  fasted  during  the  breeding  season.  From  analogy  to  the  bulls  and  from  the 
absence  of  food  in  their  stomachs  it  was  assumed  in  a  general  way  that  the  bachelors 
also  fasted,  and  by  carrying  the  chain  of  analogy  one  step  farther  it  was  assumed  that 
the  cows  fasted  also. 


THE  ABSENCE  OF  FOOD  IN  STOMACHS. 

It  Is  true  that  the  stomachs  of  adult  animals  of  all  classes  are  wholly  devoid  of  food 
when  examined  on  land.  Investigations  on  this  .score  were  made  in  LS'.H!  and  18!»7  on  a 
large  number  of  bachelors  and  many  cows.  Some  of  the  latter  were  killed  immediately 
on  coming  ashore  expressly  to  throw  light  on  the  question.  Hut  no  food  was  found, 
not  even  in  the  stomach  of  a  cow  found  choked  to  death  on  a  tisli  bone.  These 
facts,  however,  can  not  be  expected  to  weigh  against  the  conclusive  evidence  of  the 
stomachs  of  both  females  and  bachelors  taken  on  the  feeding  grounds  in  August. 
That  the  fur-seal  bull  should  fast  is  necessary.  lie  conies  on  land  in  the  spring 
loaded  down  with  blubber  in  preparation  for  it,  and  grows  tixcessively  thin  betbrc 
the  season  is  over.  The  cows  and  bachelors  show  no  such  provision.  They  maintain 
an  even  and  moderate  condition  throughout  the  season.  They  could  not  do  so  if 
they  fasted. 

15184 11 


f^; 


F 


1 1 


I 


>• 


IG2 


I'HE   PUR   SEALS   OF   THE    PKIBILOF   ISLANDS. 
THE  SEAL  DIGESTS  ITS  FOOD  IN  THE  WATER. 


For  tlie  absence  of  food  in  the  stonia^ihs  of  the  seals  we  r.'.ust  find  a  simpler 
explanation,  and  this  seems  to  be  that  they  remain  in  the  water  to  digest  their  food. 
If  it  is  not  fully  digested  when  the  animal  reaches  the  islands  on  returning  from  the 
feeding  grounds,  it  loiters  offshore  swimming  about,  sleeping,  or  playing  until  digestion 
is  completed. 

This  assumption  also  explains  other  things.  l<'or  exaiiiitle,  the  band  of  idle  seals 
hovering  oft'  the  rookery  fronts;  the  fact  that  the  cows  are  not  seen  to  come  directly 
in  from  the  sea;  and  the  fact  that  pups  killed  in  the  water,  sleeping  and  sporting  in 
the  same  way,  were  found  full  of  milk,  while  those  killed  on  land  were,  as  a  rule,  emiity. 

THE  ABSURD  THEORY  OF  INDISCRIMINATE  NURSING. 

But  not  content  with  establishing  the  fact  that  the  mother  seals  did  not  leave  the 
rookeries  while  their  pups  were  dependent  upon  them,  the  British  commissioners  went 
on  to  show  that  if  they  did  go  away  and  were  killed  the  pups  did  not  necessarily  starve, 
because  they  could  obtain  nourishment  from  other  cows.  In  short,  it  was  contended 
that  the  female  fur  seals  in  contrast  to  all  other  animals,  nursed  their  young  in  common. 
This  theory  was  supported  by  a  series  of  ostensibly  minute  but  faulty  observations, 
which  gave  an  air  of  plausibility  to  it. 

FUR-SEAL  MOTHER  AND  PUP. 

The  fur-seal  mother  displays  little  iiffection  for  her  own  young,  but  she  displays 
less  for  her  neighbors'.  When  she  wants  her  pup,  she  calls  lustily  for  it,  and,  finding 
it,  liesdow.i  and  nurses  it  without  furtiier  ceremony.  The  pup  when  satisfied  goes 
off"  and  does  not  seek  its  mother  until  it  is  again  hungry.  As  the  majority  of  the 
mothers  are  absent  at  sea,  the  majority  of  the  pups  are  always  hungry.  They  are 
willing  and  ready  to  Hock  about  the  calling  cow,  who  has  difliculty  among  so  many  in 
attracting  the  attentiori  of  her  own  pup.  The  savage  treatment  she  accords  these 
strjinge  pups  makes  them  keej*  at  a  safe  distance,  and  is  clear  enough  proof  of  her 
unwillingness  to  care  for  them. 

MISTAKEN  OBSERVATIONS. 

The  mistakes  that  have  been  made  in  this  nuitter  have  resulted  from  a  misunder- 
standing or  a  misinterpretation  of  very  simple  actions.  When  the  cow  lands,  she  is 
likely  to  be  met  at  the  shore  by  half  a  dozen  hungry  pups  waiting  for  their  mothers. 
They  Hock  about  her  and  she  snaps  and  snarls  sit  them,  calling  her  pup  in  the  intervals. 
In  due  time  it  resi)onds  and  joins  tiie  crowd  of  expectant  pups.  The  mother  reiiognizes 
it  for  a  brief  instant  by  shaking  her  head  and  smelling  over  it.  This  is  all  the 
attention  it  receives.  She  at  once  sets  ont  to  find  a  suitable  place  in  which  to  rest. 
She  may  travel  back  the  full  length  of  the  rookery,  taking  up  her  place  in  one  of  the 
rear  harems.  The  pups  may  all  follow  her  for  a  short  distance,  but  gradually  give  up 
and  return  to  the  water  front,  all  but  her  own  pup,  whic^h  persists,  and  in  the  end  is 
allowed  to  nurse. 

To  omit  from  the  observation  the  brief  and  simple  recognition  of  the  i)up  by  the 
mother  destroys  its  accuracy.  This  is  exactly  what  the  Canadian  commissioner  in 
his  observations  of  1892  did.  He  then  tried  to  prove  that  a  cow  would  nurse  any 
pup  if  it  was  only  persistent  enough.  His  interpretation  of  an  incident  like  the  one 
cited  above  was  that  tlu>.  pup  which  ultinuitely  succeeded  in  nursing  was  a  strange 
pup,  whose  persistency  was  finally  rewarded. 


THE   FOOD   OP   THE   PUPS 


163 


a  simpler 
heir  foot!. 
f  from  the 
digestion 

idle  seals 
le  directly 
porting  in 
le,  empty. 

I  leave  the 
mers  went 
ily  starve, 
contended 
a  common, 
lervatious, 


le  displays 
id,  finding 
isHed  goes 
rityof  the 
They  are 
io  many  in 
jrds  these 
oof  of  her 


misunder- 
ds,  she  is 
mothers, 
intervals. 
e(;ognizes 
is  all  the 
I  to  rest, 
one  of  the 
y  give  up 
the  end  is 

up  by  the 
ssiouer  in 
nurse  any 
ie  the  one 
I  strange 


It  is  not  necessary  to  go  into  greater  detail.  In  the  daily  journal  are  recorded  the 
observations  of  the  commission  in  this  matter.  It  is  not  a  matter  of  great  moment, 
but  f"om  the  prominence  which  this  absurd  proposition  was  given  it  has  been  necessary 
to  discuss  it. 

THE  SUPPOSED  SELF-FEEDING  OF  PUPS. 

But  not  content  with  proving  that  the  mother  did  not  leave  tlie  pup,  and  that  if 
she  did,  tiie  pup  could  easily  find  a  foster  mother,  the  Hritish  commissioners  insisted 
tliat  the  pup  could  shift  for  itself  and  gain  sustenance  independent  of  any  mother. 
This  theory  has  been  thus  stated  by  Mr.  Macouii : 

From  tht>  time  tUo  pups  first  go  into  the  water,  they  are  to  be  seen  with  pieces  of  seaweed  in  their 
mouths,  anil  there  is  no  reason  for  Uoubting  that  from  this  time  until  they  leave  the  islands  a 
•  ousidera'jle  portion  of  their  food  is  composed  of  seaweed,  picked  up  along  the  shore :  r  in  the  water 
adjaceUii  to  it. 

THE  ABSURDITY  OF  THE  THEORY. 

What  nourishment  an  animal,  whose  natural  diet  for  the  time  being  is  milk,  and 
which  is  destined  ultimately  to  feed  on  tish,  could  find  in  seaweed  is  not  readily 
apparent.  But  this  objection  seemingly  oti'ered  no  ditBonlty.  It  may  be  observed 
that  this  theory  rests  again  on  a  misinterpretation  of  very  simple  facts.  The  pup  fur 
seal,  like  a  young  dog,  loves  to  play  with  anything  it  finds  at  baud.  It  is  a  common 
sight,  therefore,  to  see  a  pup  swimming  about  with  a  yard  or  more  of  kelp  streaming 
from  its  mouth.  If  observed  closely,  other  pups  will  be  found  tossing  dead  shells, 
jtiecesof  sticks,  or  even  pebbles.  A  pup  was  observed  to  play  for  an  hour  with  a  small 
feather.  It  is  as  reasoiiableto  suppose  that  the  pup  feeds  on  the  feather  or  the  shell 
as  on  the  seaweed     They  are  all  objects  of  play ;  nothing  more. 

This  theory  n.iturally  went  a  step  fnrther,  and  assumed  that  crustacea  and  other 
animal  life  in  the  waters  about  the  rookeries  was  draw:i  upon  to  supi>lenieut  the 
seaweed  diet  of  the  pups.  The  leathery  tunicates  which  are  found  strewn  in  large 
quantities  upon  the  sand  beaches  of  St.  Paul  after  a  storm  have  been  looked  upon  as 
palatable  and  nutritions  food  for  pups.  It  is  supposed  that  these  are  the  "tender 
algoid  sprouts"  of  which  Mr.  Elliott  makes  mention  as  serving  as  food  for  pups. 

DETERMINATION  OF  THE  MATTER  BY  KILLING  PUPS. 

There  being  but  one  way  to  settle  such  a  question  as  this,  namely,  to  kill  and 
examine  the  stomachs  of  the  pups  themselves,  this  method  was  adopte<l  and  thor- 
oughly carried  out  during  the  months  of  September,  October,  and  November,  in  189G.' 


'Mr.  Mncoun,  of  the  Itritish  commission,  was  present  while  these  invcsligatiouK  were  made,  an  1 
oxamiued  the  stomachs  of  the  pups  killed.  The  stomachs  in  some  rases  contained  milk,  in  others 
none.  One  stoma<'h  w*'!l  supplied  with  milk  containe<l  two  small  amphipods ;  one  had  u  small  lunicat ; 
mixed  with  pebbles;  another  contained  part  of  a  soft-shelled  crab;  several  had  shreds  of  seaweed 
mixed  with  milk.  All  the  stomachs  contained  the  characteristic  pebbles.  This  was  the  sum  total  of 
material  aside  from  milk  found  in  the  stomachs  of  twenty  pups  killed  from  day  to  day  and  under  cir- 
cumstances most  favorable  for  determining  whether  they  wro  feeding  or  not.  .Mr.  Macoun  on  the 
spot  agreed  that  the  examinations  were  sufficient  and  that  tLcro  was  nothing  found  to  warrant  the 
supposition  that  the  pups  had  begun  to  feed  for  themselves.  Notwithstanding  this,  in  discussing 
the  matter  in  his  18SM!  report,  he  makes  the  following  grossly  misleading  statement: 

"In  addition  to  milk,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  stomachs  examined  contained  (1)  seaweed,  (2) 
ascidians,  (3)  small  crustaceans,  (4)  soft-shell  crab.  That  these  were  found  with  one  exception  only 
in  stomachs  which  contained  no  milk,  goes  to  show  that  the  young  seal  when  liungry  avail  themselves 
of  the  food  that  is  to  be  found  in  abundance  in  the  places  most  frequented  by  them."  (Macoun,  189U 
Heport,  MSS.) 


1 


H: 


lfi4 


THE    FIR   SEALS   OF   THE   PBIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


A  score  or  more  of  imps  were  killed  niuler  circuimHtuiices  specially  fitted  to  throw 
light  on  the  subject,  and  their  stomachs,  with  those  of  others  deiul  from  starvation 
and  otiier  caiit^es,  were  found  to  be  devoid  of  all  food  except  milk.'  Pups  killed  as 
late  as  the  .Ith  of  December  were  found  full  of  milk,  and  at  that  time  the  cows  were 
nursing  their  pups  as  at  earlier  times  in  the  season.  Owing  to  the  mild  weather,  this 
was  nearly  a  month  later  than  the  usual  time  for  the  departure  of  the  cows  and  their 
young,  and  the  pu|)S  had  evidently  not  yet  been  weaned. 

PUP  ABSOLUTELY  DEPENDENT  UPON    ITS  MOTHER'S  MILK. 

It  would  necessarily  follow  from  these  considerations  that  the  fur-seal  imp  is- 
dependent  upon  its  mother's  milk  for  nourishment  throughout  the  entire  season  and 
until  its  departure  with  her  from  the  islands.  This  fact,  taken  in  connection  with  the 
killing  of  nursing  females  at  sea,  is  enough  to  settle  the  question  of  whether  pups 
starve  to  death;  but  that  there  should  be  no  mistake,  the  subject  of  starvation,  as 
shown  in  its  direct  ett'ect  on  the  pups  themselves,  received  special  attention,  and  may 
be  here  considered  somewhat  in  detail. 


:i 


'  Si'e  fuller  (liscusttion  in  Mr.  Lucas'  paper  ou  the  Feeding  of  the  Seals.     I'art  III. 


I        !' 


I 


I .  I  i  ; 
I  '1' 
i    1    ' 


)  tbrow 
irvatiou 
illed  as 
iv8  were 
ler,  tbis 
ad  their 


ClIAPTKR    XIII. 


THE  STARVATION  OF  PUPS. 


imp  IS. 
son  and 
vitU  the 
er  pups 
ition,  as 
biid  may 


: 


« 


THE  COUNT  OK  STARVED  PUPS. 

The  fact  of  the  death  of  i»ups  by  starvation  has  lonj>'  been  noted,  and  for  several 
seiisons  prior  to  181(6  partial  enumerations  of  deaths  supposed  to  be  from  tbis  cause 
have  been  made.  In  the  light  of  the  early  mortality  due  to  the  ravages  of  Uncinaria, 
which  was  found  to  have  octnirred  prior  to  August  1,  and  consequently  prior  to  the 
beginning  of  jtelagic  sealing,  the.se  Hgures  were  unsatisfactory,  as  they  plainly 
confused  tlie  two  causes  of  deatii.  The  earlier  mortality  has  already  been  referred 
to  and  is  discussed  in  detail  by  .Mr,  Lu<'a8  in  his  treatment  of  the  general  subject  of 
mortality  among  the  seals.' 

At  the  time  of  the  count  of  early  dead  pups  between  August  H  and  14  a  few  were 
found  to  have  plainly  starved.  It  is  probable  that  .some  of  these  in  the  later  days  of 
the  count  were  the  first  victims  of  pelagic  sealing.  A  mother  taken  at  sea  on  the  1st 
day  of  August  might  have  been  ab.sent  for  some  time,  and  her  pup  would  naturally 
succumb  within  a  shorter  period  than  would  be  reipiired  for  one  more  recently  fed. 
The  majority  of  t!ie  early  deaths  from  starvation,  however,  were  undoubtedly  caused 
by  separation  of  mother  and  pup  by  the  wandering  t^way  of  the  latter  when  very 
young  or  by  the  death  of  the  mother  from  accidental  causes  on  the  rookeries.  A 
(ionsiderable  number  of  dead  cows  were  found  on  the  rookeries,  whose  pups  would 
naturally  starve  unless  otherwise  killed. 

THE  BEGINNINGS  OF  STARVATION. 

The  first  direct  evidence  of  the  destructive  work  of  pelagii;  .sealing  was  seen  in 
1896,  at  the  time  of  the  count  of  live  pups  on  Kitovi  rookery,  August  15.  in  counting 
the  live  pups  they  were  separated  into  pods  and  allowed  to  run  oft'  in  narrow  lines  to 
make  counting  possible.  The  weaklings  naturally  fell  behind,  and  a  group  of  from 
three  to  six  starving  pups  followed  in  the  wake  of  each  pod.  The  \k  tims  of  starva- 
tion could  from  this  time  on  be  seen  in  increasing  inimbers  as  the  rookeries  weie  daily 
inspected.  The  following  notes  on  the  starvation  of  i)ups  are  extracted  from  the 
daily  Journal  of  the  commis.sion. 

NOTES  ON  STARVING  PUPS. 

In  the  (ii-Ht  stages  of  starviitioii  tlie  doomed  pup  was  to  he  recognized  liy  ii  growing  thiniiesB. 
The  ordinary  ])tip  Is  plump  nutl  tat,  and  its  sideH  Mck  out  with  mill{  wliilo  its  motliur  is  on  land.  A 
tliiu  pup  might,  of  course,  ineiin  only  a  liungrv  one,  which  would  recover  itself  in  a  few  days  after 
its  mother's  return.  If  the  mother  did  not  return  the  pup  coutiuucd  to  grow  thinner,  A  premature 
grayncBB  began  to  show  aliout  the  eyes  and  mouth.  Th<-  eyes  aHsuniod  a  wide  ami  staring  look, 
giving  the  animal  a  hunted  itppearaiice. 


11 


III 


I! 


I 


I  Paper  on  "Causes  of  Mortality,"  by  Mr.  Lucas.     F'art  III. 


105 


1 


J 

'■■-'•'^i 


166 


THE    FUR  SEALS   OF   THE   PBIBILOP   ISLANDS. 


TlIK  HUNGRY  pur. 


While  the  pup  was  merely  hungry,  it  called  frei|ii(Mitly  for  its  mother.  It  hung  about  the  water's 
edge  as  if  awaiting  her  there.  It  would  even  follow  a  wet  cow  back  for  a  distance  from  the  water, 
but,  on  being  repulsed,  it  would  return  to  its  positicMi.  In  one  or  two  instances  starving  pups  were 
seen  to  attempt  to  nurse  sleeping  cows,  but  never  with  suceesa. 

While  their  strength  remained  the  starving  pups  played  abont  as  nsual  with  their  healthy 
companions;  always,  however,  with  an  effort.  They  went  into  the  water,  and  that  they  swam 
farther  at  times  than  their  strength  warranted  was  evident  from  the  fact  that  occasionally  they 
laiuled  to  die  on  the  rocks  at  considerable  distances  from  the  rookeries  to  which  they  belonged. 
Thus  two  pups  eiime  ashore  in  the  little  cove  across  the  neck  from  Zoltoi  and  died  there  in  1896. 

THE   ItKKAKINO   DOWN. 

After  the  first  stage  of  sharp  hunger  was  passed  the  little  animals  seemed  to  weaken  physically. 
They  lay  almut  on  the  rocks,  sometimes  sleeping,  but  always  easily  startled.  When  aroused,  some 
would  run  away,  crying  iu  terror;  others  would  turn  at  bay  and  bite  savagely  at  the  boots  of  the 
disturber,  perhaps  only  to  fall  down  helpless  the  next  instant.  In  crossing  the  sand  Hat  of  Tolstoi, 
which  waa  deserted  by  the  living  seals  in  .September,  a  dozen  or  more  of  these  gaunt  little  specters 
would  start  up  from  among  the  dead  and  stumble  away,  crying  piteously. 

One  day,  on  the,  "death-trap"' gully  of  Za]iadui,  a  little  sleeping  starveling  was  aroused  with 
di)1iculty.  When  it  caught  sight  of  the  intruder  it  fell  in  a  tit  of  terror,  then  stumbled  otf  in  a 
frantic  manner,  (mly  to  fall  in  convulsions,  which  ended  in  nnconsciouBiicsa.  This  pup  was  about  to 
die.     It  was  as  thin  as  a  shadow. 


i 


THE   DEATH   OF  THE  STAHVELINO. 

When  undisturbed,  the  starving  pups  iu  the  last  stages  showed  little  evidence  of  pain.  They 
looked  utterly  miserable,  but  indiH'erent  and  stolid.  Their  healthy  companions  occasioually  attempted 
to  play  with  them,  but  they  either  resented  the  interference  or  else  ignored  it.  For  the  most  part 
they  were  left  to  themselves.  Toward  the  end  they  slept  moat  of  the  time.  This  sleep  merged  into 
unconsciousness  and  torpor,  from  which  they  could  not  be  awakened.  Death  Anally  ca:  '  after  a  brief 
period  of  i'onvuisive  shuddering  and  gasping,  in  which  the  animal  bit  the  ground  and  voided  quantities 
of  black,  tarry  fa-ces 

DIFFICULTY  IN  DISTINGUISHING  EARLY  DEAD  PUPS. 

It  was  not  possible  at  the  time  of  the  first  count  of  dead  pups  in  August  to  remove 
the  bodies  from  the  roolieries,  and  it  was  believed  then  that  when  the  time  came  for 
counting  the  starved  pups  it  would  be  possible  to  distingui.sh  between  the  earlier  and 
later  dead.  As  the  season  advanced,  liowcver,  it  became  evident  that  it  would  not 
be  possible  to  make  the  distinction.  Tliose  dying  in  September  could  easily  be 
separated  from  those  which  died  in  July,  but  no  distinction  could  be  <lrawn  between 
those  which  died  between  the  Ist  of  August  and  the  10th  and  those  which  died 
between  the  latter  date  and  the  2()tli  of  August.  Wljen  the  count  of  starved  pups 
was  made  about  October  1  it  was  necessary,  therefore,  to  count  every  carcass  to  be 
fimnd  at  tliat  date,  l-'rom  the  total  llius  counted  those  dead  before  the  middle  of 
August  were  deducted  to  determine  tiie  number  of  additions  which  had  resulted  from 
starvation. 

Of  tlie  details  of  this  count  a  full  record  will  be  found  in  the  daily  journal  and 
need  not  be  repeated  here.  A  total  of  20,331  dead  bodies  were  found  on  St.  Paul 
island  and  897  on  St.  (Jeorge.  As  against  this  total  of  21,228  dead  pups  found  in 
Otttober,  11,04')  were  found  in  August,  which,  being  deducted,  left  10,183  paps  shown 
by  the  actual  count  to  have  died  of  starvation. 


it 


a     — 
Q      -■ 


S 


III 


1 


1 1 

I 
M  1 ' 


1 


in 


K 


«i\ 


5 

; 
t 

i,  1 

1 

h 

j 

\ 

1 

•  i 

■ 

1 

ill'! 


ii:i 


ii     ! 


"■«^   ■■ 


DISAPPEARANCE   OF    DEAD    PUPS. 
MANY   EARLY   DEAD   PUPS   DISAPPEVVRED. 


16T 


In  considering  this  count,  however,  several  fiicts  must  be  noted.  It  was  found 
that  a.  large  number  of  tlie  pups  originally  counted  in  August  had  wholly  disappeared 
or  been  reduced  to  loose  bones.  This  was  particularly  true  on  the  sandy  areas  and 
where  the  dead  lay  in  the  route  of  the  living  seal-;  as  they  paased  back  and  forth  to 
the  sea.  An  effort  was  made  to  establish  a  correction  for  this  loss,  and  liO  per  cent' 
of  the  original  number  counted  in  August  was  Hxed  upon  as  likely  to  cover  as  nearly 
as  could  thbu  be  determined  bodies  which  had  so  disappeared.  Making  allowance 
for  this  correction  the  total  number  of  starved  pups,  as  shown  by  the  enumeration, 
would  be  increased  to  12,391i. 

STARVING  PUPS. 

It  was  further  evident  from  the  outset  that  all  the  pups  about  to  die  of  starvation 
had  not  yet  died.  It  was  impossible,  however,  to  delay  the  count  longer,  and  so,  to 
overcome  this  new  difficulty,  an  ef!ort  was  made  to  count  the  starving  pups  among 
the  healthy  ones  as  they  were  driven  from  the  rookery  preparatory  to  the  counting  of 
the  dead.  The  best  estimate,  which  was  a  very  unsatisfactory  one,  gave  IMG  as  the 
number  of  pups  whose  appearance  indicated  that  they  were  certain  to  starve.  This 
number  was  doubtless  very  inadequate,  as  later  observations  on  the  rookeries  in  the 
same  season  showed  that  pups  continued  to  starve  until  as  late  as  the  20th  of  October, 
twenty  days  after  the  count  was  completed  on  St.  I'aul  Island.  Making,  however,  the 
addition  of  the  dying  pups  just  mentioned,  as  shown  by  the  actual  count,  we  have  the 
number  of  deaths  justly  chargeable  to  starvation  increased  to  13,930. 

THE   WORK   OF  THE   FOXES. 

Another  fact  in  connection  with  the  actual  count  must  be  noted.  On  the  Island 
of  St.  (ieorge,  as  already  indicated,  the  total  number  of  dead  pui>s  found  in  October 
was  897.  In  August  the  number  found  was  735.  On  some  of  the  rookeries  of  this 
island,  however,  a  much  smaller  number  of  dead  was  found  in  October  than  was 
found  in  August.  The  condition  of  the  St.  (Jeorge  rookeries  was  so  peculiar  that  we 
may  give  here  in  detail  both  counts.    They  are  as  follows: 


DEAB  I'DI'.S,  ST.  CrEORaE  ISLAND. 


Itookery, 


North 

Starayii  A itel 

yCapiuIiii 

Kn»t 

Little  Kttst  .. 

T<)t(il . . 


Dead  i)iip»,   Tcital  (trail 

AiiKiist,     tmpH,  Octo- 

1890.       i  bur  «,  1896. 


259 

las 

199 
112 
31 


730 


145 
194 


897 


'  The  inveBtigations  of  18!t7  show  clearly  that  this  estimate  of  20  per  cent  to  cover  the  diaap- 
pearanco  of  dead  bodies  betwein  Anjj;nst  and  October  is  far  below  the  facts.  Oiir  experiences  with 
Kitovi  and  Liikaniu  in  1897  would  indicate  that  50  per  cent  would  not  have  been  an  excessive 
estimate.  Many  of  the  carcasses  are  washed  away  in  the  storms.  Kvery  one  on  which  the  skin  is 
broken  is  quickly  reduced  to  bones  by  the  gnlls  and  foxes.  Furtherinore,  many  bodies  are  necessarily 
overlooked  an  they  lie  bitlden  auiou^  the  rocks. 


i  « 


I  \ 


4- 


'I 


'M'^ 


168 


THE    FUR   SEALS   OF   THE    PRIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


Tbo  cxpluiintion  of  tlifs  condition  of  thinf>8  is  that  on  tlie  rookeries  of  St.  Oeorpfe 
the  blue  foxes,'  of  which  there  are  many,  had  eaten  all  the  pa]>  carcasses  without 
exception.  Tiic  final  count  had  to  he  made  simply  by  skulls,  or  spinal  colums,  or  such 
parts  of  tlie  animals  as  could  be  positively  identified. 

RECONSTRUCTION   OF   ST.   GEORGE   ESTIMATES. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  remark  tliat  these  figures  for  St.  (leorge  can  not  be  used  as 
they  stand.  Some  sort  of  estimate  must  be  made  to  take  their  place.  No  fairer  basis 
for  such  an  estimate  exists  than  to  apply  to  the  rookeries  of  St.  (leoige  the  ratio  of 
dead  pups  found  in  October  on  St.  Paul.  On  this  island  the  ratio  of  dead  pups  found 
in  October  to  the  total  number  estimated  to  have  been  born  was  1 1.19  per  cent.^  This 
would  necessitate  the  addition  of  1,302  pups  to  make  the  conditions  of  St.  George 
comparable  with  those  on  St.  I'aul.  This  amount,  together  with  150  pups  which  were 
removed  from  the  rookeries  of  both  islands  during  the  breeding  sefson  for  purposes 
of  dissection,  makes  the  total  death  rate  subsetpient  to  the  middle  of  August,  and 
directly  chargeable  to  starvation,  aggregate  1(»,01!).'' 

THE    DETAILED    ESTIMATE. 

This  total,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  explanations  already  given,  is  not  entirely 
satisfactory,  but  it  is  a  real  one  so  far  as  it  goes,  and  fully  12,000  of  it  is  an  actual  count, 


'  In  Mr.  Maconu's  report  for  189(i  this  nniloiibted  fact,  which  he  saw  with  his  own  oyes,  is 
needlessly  i|iiestioneil.  If  tiii<  foxes,  us  was  the  fact,  had  completely  destroyed  tho  897  carcasses 
which  111!  counted,  it  is  bo;;f{iuj;  the  (luestion  to  assume,  as  he  does,  that  they,  aided  by  the  elements, 
could  not  have  destroyed  the  l,vt()2  additional  pups  necessary  to  make  the  conditions  of  St.  (lenr^e 
ngree  with  tlio.se  of  St.  I'anl. 

-  Tliis  )(oreentaKo  is  computed  on  the  original  census  of  1896,  not  on  the  revised  figures  substituted 
in  1897. 

'A  strong  ertort  has  been  made  by  I'rofessor  Thompson  and  by  Mr.  Macoun  in  thoir  reports  nf 
1890  to  weaken  the  force  of  these  dctinite  results  regarding  the  starvation  of  pups.  Not  tinding  it 
possible  to  deny  the  fact  of  starvation  or  its  imprrtance,  they  have  endeavored  to  minimize  Its  eftects 
by  insisting  that  the  causes  of  early  mortality  continued  into  and  were  at  work  in  the  period  of 
starvation.  Nothing  could  be  more  misleading  than  this.  The  early  causes  of  death  are  Uncinaria, 
trampling,  starvation  through  early  separation  from  the  mother,  drowning,  accidents.  All  these 
have  to  do  with  the  weakness  and  helplessness  of  the  very  young  pups,  and  mast  necessarily  cease 
with  till'  close  of  the  breeding  season.  The  pups  die  from  or  outgrow  the  worm  before  September  1. 
In  fact,  this  cause  is  practically  inoperative  after  August  20.  Pups  are  only  trampled  in  the  first  few 
days  after  birtii,  and  they  are  only  lost  from  their  mothers,  if  at  all,  at  this  time.  They  certainly  do 
not  drown  after  they  have  learned  to  swim,  which  they  do  by  the  middle  of  August.  The  period  of 
death  from  starvation  lasts  from  August  15  to  October  20.  The  causes  of  the  early  and  later  mortality 
Were  absolutely  distinct,  and  that  the  latter  was  d.uo  ]>ractically  without  CNception  to  starvation 
needs  no  demonstration  to  those  who  made  the  count  of  the  dead  and  dying  pups  on  the  rookeries  of 
St   I'aul  in  October,  18911. 


STATISTICS   <JP   STARVED    PUI'8. 


Ifi'J 


tlie  accuracy  of  which  can  not  be  (jiu'stioned.    The  t'oUowing  tahle  will  give  in  detail 
the  statistics  of  the  estimate: 

Pup  statUlics — numvtarii. 


Kooker}'. 


Total 
iHirn.  n 


Dead.  | 

— — HtarveiiJ  Htnrvtng. 

AiigiiRt.    October.  i 


HT.  PAUL  IHLAND. 


Kltovi 

Liikuiiin 

Laicooii 

Tolstoi 

ZHpiiiIni 

Little  Zupniliii.. 
Zapailiii  livvt'... 

Gorbatcli 

Ardijjiiuii 

Reef 

Siviitcli  Itark... 

Polovinn 

Ultlc  I>nloviiia. 

Vostorliiil 

Morjovi 


I)4B 
4.5U 
4X1 
4:19 
048 
2IH) 
862 
142 
652 
258 
907 
1)73 
363 
148 

;73 


mil 

205 

78 

1,8115 

3.oy5 

134 

104 

712 

2 

9,50 

5(1 

635 

47 

1,808 

483 


«U0 
57!) 
3in 

2,419 

4. 395 
6113 
327 

1,878 
78 

2,786 
284 

l,.5.'i5 
110 

3.313 
950 


500 
374 
238 
5."4 

,300 
659 
223 

,160 
76 

,  836 

234 

920 

72 

.  .■.25 


43 

27 

51 

101 

1.54 

04 

18 

1211 

8 

301) 

31 

55 

22 

320 

100 


Total 

Addition  of  20  ]ier  iteiit  for  Iohh  lie!  ween 

Aiiuugt  and  t Ictober  t-onnta 

Starving  pii|iH  to  be  added  an  starved 

Addition  fur  botlicH  taken  for  diHHeclion 


123.048     .     10,301)         20.331 


10.022 

2,  061 

1.527 

150 


1,.'p27 


Total  Htarved 13,700 


ST.  OEORdE  ISLAND. 

Xortli 

0,809 
2.269 
5.  ,501) 
4,080 
1,3,50 

259 
135 
199 
112 
31 

145 

194 

527 

15 

16 

762 
2.53 
617 
4l->7 
151 

Xa])adni 

Ej48t 

4 
4 

Little  KaHt 

Total 

20. 123 

736 

897 

h2.  240 

10 

10 

Starvinu  itnpa  added  as  Htarved  

Total 

2  I'.-iU 

■ 

143, 071 

11.045 

21,228 

16,019 

1,546 

aTlieneare  the  fiKun-Hof  the  ori);inal  ccniina  of  1896  aa  imbliHlicil  in  tlie  pii'liminurv  rt']iiirl  of 
tliat  year. 

bTheflgurcg  herein  given  for  Htarved  iinpa  on  tlie  rookerie»  of  St.  Ueorgo  are  eMtimaleH  based 
I  tbe  eonditiona  of  St.  Paul. 


ii|H>n  I 


STARVED   PUPS   IN    1897. 


The  investigations  of  the  season  of  1897  have  made  the  connt  of  dead  pii])s  in 
1896  seem  still  less  satislactory.  It  may  be  said  that  the  dead  i)Ui)s  lie  concealed 
among  the  rocks,  and  as  they  quickly  wear  away  under  the  action  of  the  elements  and 
the  trampling  of  the  living  animals  they  are  not  easily  seen  in  the  hasty  iiispectitni, 
whicli  alone  is  possible  in  counting  them.  A  good  illustration  of  the  probable 
inadequacy  of  the  counts  of  dead  bodies  is  shown  by  the  results  on  Kitovi  rookery. 
A  count  of  thi.s  breeding  ground,  made  with  a  good  deal  of  care  on  the  ."{d  of  August, 
tlisclosed  12(»  dead  botlies.  When  a  week  or  ten  days  later  the  carcasses  were  actually 
gathered  up  and  removed  from  the  beach,  the  closer  inspection  disclosed  L'02  dead. 
This  inatlequacy  of  the  counts  of  dead  pups  in  1896  is,  however,  of  such  a  nature  as 
to  make  the  case  all  the  stronger,  because  it  leaves  an  under,  rather  than  an  over, 
estimate. 


]]' 


» 


I'i 


170 


THE    FUR    SEALS    OF   THE    PRIHILOP    ISLANDS. 


THE   REMOVAL  OP   THE   EARLY   DEAD. 


Ill  the  work  of  tbu  present  seaMoii  a  distinct  step  in  advance  was  trade  in  the 
enumeration  of  tlie  starved  pups.  One  element  of  confusion  in  last  year's  count 
resulted  from  tlie  diiticulty  in  distinguishing  between  tlie  early  and  the  later  dead. 
To  obviate  this  the  pup  carcasses  on  Kitovi  and  Lukanin  rookeries  were  carefully 
removed  on  August  12,  before  the  starvation  from  i)elagic  sealing  began.  Frequent 
counts  of  the  dead,  as  they  accumulated  from  and  after  the  llith,  were  kept  up  until 
the  10th  of  September,  aiul  the  accessions,  all  plainly  due  to  starvation,  were  found  to 
be  fairly  constant  from  day  to  day.  These  counts  will  be  found  in  the  daily  journal, 
under  date  of  September  6  and  10. 

Ou  October  15  a  count  by  Colonel  Murray  of  the  dead  on  these  two  breeding 
grouiuls  gave  a  total  of  1,057.  These  had  died  after  August  lii,  and  may  be  taken  as 
a  very  exact  measure  of  the  contribution  of  these  two  rookeries  to  the  geueral  quota 
of  death  caused  by  pelagic  sealing. 

THE    ESTIMATE   OF   STARVED   PUPS,  1897. 

There  were  in  round  numbers  about  9,500  i)ups  born  on  Kitovi  aiul  Lukanin 
rookeries  in  18!>7.  The  number  starved  was  therefore  about  11  per  cent  of  the 
birth  rate.  Applying  this  percentage  to  the  total  birth  rate  of  the  islands,  the  total 
death  rate  from  starvation  in  1897  must  have  Imen  approximately  14,000.  In  18!M» 
the  percentage  of  females  taken  in  Bering  Sea  was  84.  From  the  greater  8car<:ity  of 
males  this  year  and  the  closer  killing  practiced  ou  the  islands,  we  are  justified  in 
assuming  that  the  percentage  for  this  year  could  not  have  been  below  90  per  cent. 
This  would  give  a  total  of  about  15,000  females  killed.  The  dilference  of  1,000 
will  account  for  the  small  proportion  of  virgin  two-year  olds,  and  the  adult  cows  in 
the  pelagic  catch,  which  had  already  lost  their  pups  through  natural  causes. 


!    fi 


1,    M  ^1 

*1         I        ; 


THE    IMPORTANCE   OF   THE   FIGURES. 

These  data  regarding  the  results  of  starvation  are  very  import<ant,  and  from  them 
we  can  review  our  tindings  of  last  year.  Applying  a  proportionate  relation  of  starved 
pups  to  the  peiagic  catch  of  1896,  we  And  that  the  estimate  for  last  year  should  have 
been  about  24,0(M»  instead  of  10,000. 

It  is  not  desired,  however,  to  press  either  of  these  calculations  too  closely.  The 
percentage  of  the  two  rookeries  counted  may  be  slightly  too  high  for  the  other 
rookeries.  It  certainly  is  too  high  for  those  rookeries  on  which  the  early  mortality  is 
great. 

THE   DESTRUCTIVE   EFFECTS   OF   PELAGIC   SEALING   ESTABLISHED. 

But  the  mere  matter  of  the  number  of  pups  which  starve  is  not  important.  The 
essential  thing  is  that  a  very  large  number  of  pups  do  starve.  This  is  settled  beyond 
cavil.  As  we  know  the  pups  are  wholly  dependent  upon  their  mothers'  milk  for 
nourishment  until  fully  a  month  after  pelagic  sealing  ceases,  it  follows  necessarily 
that  the  pup  dies  as  a  result  of  the  mother's  death,  if  it  has  not  already  died  from 
other  causes.  That  more  than  16,000  pups,  which  had  otherwise  escaped  accidents  on 
the  rookeries  in  1896,  and  about  14,(M)0  in  1897  died  of  starvation  is  sufficient  proof  of 


EFFECTS    OF    PELAOIC    8EALIN0.  171 

tbe  destructive  eflccta  of  peln^ific  Bealiiig.  This  nrtificial  and  added  houitc  ot  loss 
ainuiiju;  tlio  young  pup.n  is  all  the  more  impressive  when  taken  in  connection  with  the 
previous  lusa  which  they  sutler  from  natural  causes. 

THE  CUMULATIVE  EFFECT  OF  PELAGIC  SEALINO. 

We  are  now  ready  to  consider  linally  the  full  otlects  of  pelagic  sealing  on  the  fur- 
seal  herd.  It  is  apparent  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  fur  seals  taken  at  sea  are 
females;  that  every  female  above  the  age  of-'  years  is  {tregnant,  and  that  when  taken 
in  Itering  Sea  she  has  a  pup  dependent  upon  her  whose  deaih  results  from  her  own. 

Using  an  average  of  ail  the  data  available,  the  proportion  of  females  in  the 
pelagic  catch  is  about  80  per  cent,  or,  to  be  on  the  safe  side,  ai.'d  for  the  sake  of  ease 
in  computation,  we  may  consider  it  to  be  75  per  cent. 

THE  TOTAL  EFFECT  OF  PELAGIC  SEALING. 

In  the  earlier  discussion  of  the  pelagic  catch  we  found  that  a  grand  total  of 
988,047,  or  approximately  1,000,000  seals,  had  been  taken  at  sea  since  1808  from  all 
the  herds  of  the  North  raciiic.  With  this  data  at  hand  we  may  make  the  following 
tabulation  of  the  losses  thus  suffered  by  the  fur-seal  herds  of  the  I'ribilof  and 
Commander  islands: 

Lois  in  all  wtiter$  throniih  pelaijie  Henlinti,  1S0S-J8I)7. 

AnimalH  actually  HecnrtMl  (in  roiin<l  uiiiiiberH) 1,000,000 

Aiiiiiials  shot,  l>tit  lost  (nndeteiniiiied). 

Unborn  i)ui)8  dostroypil  with  fumiiles  (75  per  cent  of  above) 750,  OOO 

Nursing  pups  starved  (proportion  of  females  killed  in  Bering  8<'a) 180,  U(H) 

Total  l,!t30,(XK) 

Though  the  second  item  in  the  above  enumeration  is  not  and  can  not  be 
determined,  it  is  nevertheless  an  important  one  and  must  be  borne  constantly  in  mind. 
During  this  period  it  is  significant  to  note,  as  bearing  upon  the  proportion  of  the  sexes 
at  sea,  that  approximately  3,000,000  males  were  killed  on  land  during  the  equivalent 
period. 

THE  EFFECT  SINCE  1883. 

But  inasmuch  as  land  killing  was  at  its  maximum  during  the  first  tifteen  years  of 
this  period,  and  pelagic  sealing  only  nominal,  the  effect  of  the  latter  will  be  more 
strikingly  apparent  if  the  comparison  be  based  upon  the  results  since  188.J,  when  the 
pelagic  catch  in  Bering  Sea  began.  This  computation  for  the  Tribilof  herd  alone 
would  be  as  follows: 

1,08a  to  the  Pribilof  herd  through  ^tdagic  sealing  sincr  ISSS. 

Animal:-;  actually  secured 5.%,  000 

Auimuls  shot,  but  loal  (undetermined). 

Unborn  pups  destroyed  with  females  (75  per  cent  of  above) 402, 000 

Nursing  pups  otarved 180, 000 

Total 1,118,000 

Total  land  killing  covering  the  same  period 842, 000 


■-^ 


1:1 


172  TIIK    I'l'B    SEALS    OF    THE    I'RIIULOI'    ISI-ANDS. 

THE  EFFECT  UNDER  THE  PARIS  REGULATIONS. 

From  tlieHC  Hpures  wp  l»egiii  to  appiociate  tlio  t'ttV'(it  wliicjli  peltijjic  sealing  Ima 
bad  on  t\\v.  fur  seiil  lieid.  At  the  risk  of  iiipetitioii  it  is  woitli  while  to  t-arry  thin 
coniputatioii  one  Bte|)  further  and  see  what  has  been  the  eondition  of  thinus  since  the 
regulations  of  the  I'aiis  Tribuiuil  went  into  ett'ett.    The  following  is  the  result: 

Imsh  Ut  thr  I'ribilof  li«rtl  Ihroufih  iiflai/iv  lealiiiii  tinee  IS'M. 

AniiuaU  uftiiiill.v  ncciirotl 1S7, 000 

Aiiiinalit  Hlidt,  l>iit  loHt<  (iin<let<'riiiiiii-(l). 

I'lilioni  imps  (lostro.vctl  witli  I'eiiuileB  (7r»  per  cent  of  above) 110. 000 

Niir»iii>j;  piipH  starved  (proportiou  of  leniftlcH  killiMl  in  llerinx  S(>n) 12L',000 

Total I4i»,()00 

Total  land  killing;,  Maiiio  period SO, (MM) 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  iidd  anything  to  this  arriiignnient  of  pelagic  sealing. 
In  its  known  effects,  coupled  with  the  absence  of  any  other  known  cause,  we  must 
adjudge  it  the  efticient  cause  of  the  detiline.  The  fur  seal  herd  lias  declined  and  is 
declining  solely  because  of  the  slaughter  of  its  gravid  and  nursing  females  and  the 
premature  destruction  of  their  offspring.  It  naturally  follows  that  these  figures 
constitute  an  equally  striking  and  conclusive  condemnation  of  the  regulations  of  the 
Paris  award. 


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EFFECTS  01-  PELAGIC  SEALING  ON  THE  SEAL-SKIN  INDUSTRY. 

Tims  fiir  we  have  coiisideivd  soli'ly  thfi  oHV-ct  of  pela^it!  scaling  on  llie  tlll•-^'■.'al 
herd.  It  is  worth  wliile,  iiowevor,  to  Uiok  iit  tlie  etlect  also  on  tiie  tjeneral  sealskin 
industry.  In  Tormer  days  the  Hiipply  ol' seal  hU ins  came  in  part  from  the  southern 
hemisphere;  but  these  herds  are  pruetically  extinct,  except  lor  a  lew  thousand  skins 
taken  ateerlain  protected  points.  The  fur  seal  skin  industry  is  therefore  practically 
dependent  for  its  existence  on  the  preservation  of  the  seal  herds  of  the  North  Pacitlc. 

INTERNATIONAL    INTEREST    IN    THE    FUR-SEAL    HERDS. 

The  Tnited  States  and  Russia  on  theone  han<l,  and  <!reat  Britain  on  the  other,  are 
vitally  interested  in  this  industry,  the  former  nations  because  of  their  property  rifthts 
in  the  sealii  and  the  revenue  they  should  derive  from  the  safe  and  legitinuite  killing 
of  nuiles  on  laud;  the  hitter  naticui  throngh  the  interest  of  her  citizens  in  the  city  of 
London  engaged  in  tiie  dressing  and  dyeing  of  seal  skins.  Practically  all  the  seal 
skins  of  the  world  are  prepared  in  London.  Practically  all  the  .seal  skins  of  the 
wovM  are  supplied  by  the  herds  frcciuenting  the  IMibilof  Islands  and  (Jonimander 
Islands  and  behtnging  to  the  I'nited  States  and  Russia. 

UNITED  STATES  INTERESTS. 

Speaking  more  directly  for  the  interests  of  the  United  States,  it  may  be  said  that 
during  the  tirst  twenty  years  of  its  possession  of  the  islands  onr  (lovernment  derived 
an  annual  revenue  of  ^M',it{M  in  tax  paid  by  the  lessees  of  the  rookeries.  I  Miring 
this  ]>eriod  the  annual  ipiota  averaged  KKMKIO.  With  a  like  ipiota  and  the  more 
advantageous  terms  of  the  present  lease  with  the  new  company,  the  United  States 
ought  now  to  be  receiving  a  revenue  of  $1,(I(IO,0(M)  annually  from  its  fur-seal  herd; 
but  instead  it  receives  an  income  siarcely  sullicient  to  meet  the  cost  of  patnd  in  the 
enforcement  of  the  regulations  Ibr  the  protection  of  the  henl. 

The  United  States  has  also  other  interests  than  its  revenue  under  the  lease.  For 
example,  it  derives  a  reventu;  from  the  importation  of  prepared  skins  brought  from 
London  t(»  the  American  market.  Seventy-live  percent  of  the  dressed  seal  skins  find 
their  ultimate  market  in  the  United  States,  On  the  7o,0(K)  skins  wliich  American 
dealers  should  now  be  importing  were  conditions  normal,  the  LTnited  States  should  be 
deriving  an  annual  income  of  $.'$7.'»,IM)0.  In  the  manufactiire  and  sale  of  seal-skin 
garments  American  citizens  have  an  important  interest. 

Putting  these  varioiis  elements  together,  it  will  be  seen  that  under  nornnil  con- 
ditions the  United  States  should  be  enjoying  to-day  an  income  of  about  $l,37r>,000' 
from  its  fur-seal  herd,  whereas  it  receives  less  than  oue-tifth  this  amount. 


I  Case  of  Uiiiteil  Stiitt-s  Fur  Soul  .Vil>.,  Vtil,  I,  p.  L'7L' 


I7a 


lij 


174 


THE   FUR   SEALS   OP  THE   PRIBILOF   ISLANDS. 


i 


.     \ 


1 1     -'.i 


H  .  ii  r: 


H-''^: 

h 


RUSSIAN  INTERESTS. 

The  interest  of  Russia  lies  solely  in  the  revenue  which  she  should  derive  from 
the  taking  of  seal  skins  on  her  islands.  Her  citizens  are  not  to  any  extent  engaged 
in  the  sale  and  manufacture  of  the  garments  made  from  the  skins. 

THE    INTEREST    OF    GREAT    BRITAIN. 

Great  Britain's  interest  in  the  fur-seal-skin  industry  is  next  in  importance  to  that 
of  the  United  States.  There  was  invested  in  the  city  of  Loudon,  in  1892,  a  capita)  of 
$5,000,000  engaged  in  the  work  of  dressing  and  dyeing  seal  skins.'  Between  2,000 
and  3,000  skilled  workmen  were  employed  in  the  business.  This  capital  and  labor, 
on  account  of  their  highly  specialized  nature,  can  not  be  advantageously  turned 
into  other  channels.  The  extermination  of  the  fur-seal  herds  means  the  ruin  of  the 
seal-skin  industry. 

THE    CANADIAN    PELAGIC    SEALING    INTERESTS. 

It  is  worth  while  here  to  contrast  the  value  and  importance  of  the  so-called 
industry  which  is  opposed  to  these  several  interests.  In  tic  rejwrt  of  the  British 
commissioners  for  1892'  we  find  this  statement:  "The  estimated  value  of  the  British 
Columbian  vessels  employed  in  sealing,  with  their  equipments,  as  they  sailed  in  1892, 
was  !?359,000."  This  valuation  may  be  looked  upon  as  an  extreme  one,  and  the  vessels 
have  deteriorated  si'ice.  Mr.  T.  T.  Williams '  gives  the  value  of  the  Canadian  sealing 
fleet  of  24  vessels  in  1889,  including  outfits,  as  $173,350.  The  average  value  per  vessel 
would  according  to  this  be  approximately  $7,200.  For  the  49  vessels  in  1892  the 
average  valuation  would  be  $7,300.  A  recent  estimate  by  Capt.  C.  L.  Hooper^  of  the 
value  of  19  of  these  vessels  engaged  in  sealing  in  1890,  but  not  in  1897,  was  in  round 
numbers  $4r),000,  which  would  give  an  average  valuation  of  $2,400  per  vessel,  a  figure 
probably  much  nearer  present  conditions. 

VALUATION    OF    THE    FLEET. 

Applying  this  later  valuation  to  the  entire  sealing  fleet  of  1896 — 21  American 
and  6G  British  vessels — we  have  as  opposed  to  the  important  interests  of  the  Ignited 
States  and  (Ireat  Britain  a  capital  of  not  to  exceed  $208,000.  This  should  be 
contrasted  with  the  capital  of  $5,000,000  invested  in  the  preparation  of  the  sea  skins 
in  Loudon  and  with  the  revenue  of  $1,375,000  a  year  which  the  United  i^tates 
should  by  right  be  enjoying.  Taking  the  average  number  of  men  employed  per  vessel 
ii:  1S89  and  1891,  we  find  that  for  the  fleet  of  87  vessels  in  189(3  there  was  a  total  of 
2,000  white  men  and  Indians.  With  these  should  be  contrasted  the  2,000  or  more 
skilled  workmen  engaged  in  dyeing  and  dressing  the  seal  skins  in  London. 

The  pelagic  fleet  in  1890  took,  all  told,  altout  70,000  skins,  worth  $7  apiece,  or  a 
gross  income  of  about  $490,000.  It  is  not  easy  to  estimate  the  expense  of  fitting  out 
such  a  fleet,  but  if  we  take  out  of  this  gross  earning  of  a  little  less  than  half  a  million 
the  wages  of  2,000  men  for  from  three  to  six  months,  in  addition  to  the  provisions  for 


'  Case  of  Tnited  StutcH  Fur  Seal  Arb.,  vol.  I,  p.  273. 
-  Pioc.  Fit  Seal  Arb.,  vol.  6,  p.  35. 
^FiirSeal  Alb.,  vol..?,  p.  499. 
••Sec  AppeiKlix. 


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len  2,000 
id  labor, 
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le  British 
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isions  for 


% 


EFFECTS  OF  PELAOIC  SEALING. 


175 


the  voyage,  tlio  profit  of  tlie  pcLagic  investment  is  small.  In  fact,  it  is  not  a  matter  of 
profit  at  all,  but  one  of  loss,  Tlu>  true  nature  of  the  business  was  plain  in  18J)7,  when 
only  38  vessels  as  against  87  in  18!M;  engaged  in  sealing. 

PELAGIC  SEALING  A  SUICIDAL  INDUSTRY. 

This  effect  of  pelagic  sealin^  tipon  itself  is  interesting  and  imimrtnnt.  The  true 
character  of  the  industry  can  be  .seen  from  the  following  tabulation  of  its  protluct 
under  the  regulations  of  the  Paris  award : 

I'daijic  catches,  ^S'J4-tS'J7. 


North- 
west Const. 

24, 101 
12,122 
14,417 

7,  8.^7 

Bering 
Sen. 

SI,,'*"! 

o 44, 169 
29,, '5(10    ! 
16.464 

j 

ifin4              .        

1895 

IKWi 

1     1897 

(I  In  I8t,'>  there  neri'  ,'iH  thshoIs  «n;;ag(Ml  in  sealin);.  as  iiKHinat  ;<7  in  1894. 

Not  only  is  pelagic  sealing  a  destructive  and  wasteful  industry,  but  it  is  suicidal 
in  its  nature.  It  is  at  best  but  an  insignificant  industry.  It  threatens  the  destruction 
of  vastly  more  important  interests  and  with  them  its  own  interests.  I'elagic  sealing 
preys  upon  its  own  capital.  The  more  .successful  it  is  the  tiuicker  will  come  its  ruin. 
Its  bankrupt  condition  to  day  is  clearly  .shown  in  the  declining  catch  and  the 
withdrawal  of  its  vessels. 

THE  EFFECT  OF  THE  DECLINING  CATCH. 

As  the  business  of  pelagic  sealing  is,  so  is  tlie  fur  seal-skin  trade.  I'elagic  sealing 
has  until  this  year  in  a  measure  supplied  the  deficiency  occasio  id  by  tlie  decrease  in 
the  land  catch.  The  combined  land  and  sea  catches  of  1897,  ho  ,ever,  number  all  told 
only  about  G0,00(>  skins.    The  pelagic  catch  alone  in  1894  furnished  140,000  skins. 

The  uncertainty  and  especially  the  iiiadeqiuicy  of  the  sni»ply  of  skins  has  seriously 
affected  the  .sealskin  market,  which  as  a  result  is  badly  demoralized.  The  effect  of 
the  shortage  of  supply  in  seal  skins  makes  it  necessary  to  substitute  other  fur.s.  This 
tends  to  drive  the  seal  skin  out  of  fashion,  as  the  substitute  becomes  itself  fashionable. 
Concerning  this  phase  of  the  (juestion  we  may  (piote  the  words  of  one  of  the  best 
informed  dealers  in  fur-seal  skins  who  said  in  a  recent  interview: 

The  s'ftl  skii;  will  jirolialily  luvcr  ;;ip  out  of  I'ii.sbioii  so  lony;  iis  tin-  siipjjly  is  fully  ndeijiiute  to  tho 
(It'iiiuiid.  Hut  if  the  supply  were  to  l»t'  cut  oil'  or  ri-dund  too  low,  it  woulil  lie  iiecisstiry  to  supply  tlifl 
(li'iuiiinnVoui  other  furs  iiiul  seal  slfi-'s  would  fju  out  of  I'ashiou.  Whiit  is  worse,  with  tho  change  of 
fashion  tlirt  lueu  now  eiui>lciytMl  in  euriii);  the  skins  woultl  havo  to  .seek  other  lines  of  work  and  would 
lie  lost  to  the  husiuess.  When  it  was  ayain  attempted  to  bring  the  s(>al  skin  into  fashion,  it  would  bo 
iiocessnry  to  train  up  a  new  set  of  men.  For  many  years  aftiT  tho  resumption  of  the  curing  of 
N(,al  skins  tho  results  w<hi1i1  he  so  poor  and  unsatisfaetory  that  they  could  not  he  sold  to  anyone 
familial  with  th.<  present  grade  of  skins.  It  is  not  likely  therefore  that,  if  the  seal  skin  was  lost  to 
fashion  now,  it  eould  lie  lirought  liuek  within  the  present  generation, 

THE  LEGALITY  OF  PELAGIC  SEALING, 

Such  is  the  nature  of  pelagic  sealing,  the  sole  cause  of  the  threatened  destruction 
of  the  fur-seal  herd,  the  sole  obstacle  which  stands  in  the  way  of  its  restoration. 


fi 


i 

I 


176 


THE   FUK   SEALS   OF   THE    I'RIBILOF   ISLANDS. 


Much  lias  been  said  of  tlie  legality  of  pelagic  sealiiu;,  and  to  this  wo  take,  no 
exception.  Pelagic  sealing  is  perfectly  legal,  but  this  legality  was  fixed  by  a  tribunal 
which  was  so  confused  by  false  testimony  and  ignorant  and  worthless  affidavits,  that, 
while  attempting  to  formulate  measures  for  the  protection  of  the  seals,  it  legalized 
the  very  cause  of  their  destruction.  But  the  whitewash  of  respectability  which  was 
thus  i)ut  upon  pelagic  sealing  can  not  hide  its  true  character.  Judged  by  its  methods 
and  results,  it  is  merely  a  species  of  legalized  barbarism.  Pelagic  sealing  is  simply 
a  public  uuisance  which  can  now  only  be  disposed  of  by  an  international  agreement. 

THE  PROHIBITION  OF  PELAGIC  SEALING  TO  AMERICANS. 

« 

It  is  with  a  great  sense  of  relief  that  we  find  ourselves  able  to  record  the  recent 
action  of  C;ongr«}8s  in  the  i)rohibition  of  the  pra<!tice  of  pehigic  sealing  by  our  own 
citizens  and  the  exclusion  of  skins  of  females  from  our  markets.  This  step  should 
have  been  taken  long  ago.  It  must  be  remembered  that  until  the  passage  of  t;:.s 
law'  Americans  as  well  as  Canadians  have  been  engaged  in  slaughtering  the  fur 
seals.  Of  the  87  vessels  which  took  seals  during  the  season  of  1896,  21  were  American. 
And  not  only  have  our  citizens  helped  to  destroy  our  own  herd,  but  they  have  crossed 
the  Pacific  and  have  been  instrumental  in  dei>Ietiug  the  herd  of  frier.liy  Russia. 
American  enterprise  has  also  had  the  leading  part  in  the  practical  extermination  of 
the  fur-seal  rookeries  of  the  Kuril  Islands,  belonging  to  Japan. 

PELAGIC  SEALING  DISTINCTLY  A  CANADIAN  INDUSTKv' 

Henceforth,  however,  our  hands  are  clean  and  we  can  with  dignity  and  as,.-<urance 
urge  that  other  nations  take  steps  to  put  an  end  to  the  l>usine8s.  Pelagic  sealing — 
with  its  slaughter  of  gravid  femalcvS  and  the  starvation  of  their  dependent  young, 
with  its  wast©  of  a  noble  and  valuable  animal  life,  with  its  threatened  destruction 
of  varied  and  important  conunercial  enterprises  and  of  the  sole  source  of  supply  of  a 
commodity  of  utility  and  value  to  mankind — is  from  this  time  on  distinctly  a  Canadian 
industry  and  under  the  fostering  care  of  (rreat  Britain.  If  she  permits  its  continimnce, 
the  odium  must  rest  with  her. 


'  See  text  oC  tliis  law  iu  Apiieudi.v  II  to  the  report. 


(;  II  APT  Kit    XV 


THE  RESULTS  OF  THE  PARIS  AWARD. 


A.  THF  ARBITRATION. 

Before  tiikiiipr  up  the  question  of  what  benefits  liave  resulted  to  the  fur-seul  herd 
from  the  regulations  formulated  by  the  Paris  Tribunal  of  Arbitration,  it  will  be  wortli 
our  while  to  review  briefly  the  liistory  of  the  fur-seal  (joiitroveray  which  led  up  to  the 
Tribunal. 

THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  FUR-SEAL  QUESTION. 

It  was  not  until  alter  the  exteusion  of  pelajfic;  sealinj;'  into  Heriny  8ea,  lirst  by 
unlawful  raiding  of  the  rookeries,  begun  about  the  year  1879,  and  afterwards,  by 
the  invasion  of  the  ainnmer  feeding  grounds  of  tlie  herd  in  1880,  that  there  eanie  to 
be  a  fur  seal  (luestion.  The  first  recorded  pelagic  catch  in  Bering  Sea  is  that  of  the 
schooner  Citi/  of  San  JUcf/o  in  the  year  lS8.'i.' 

THE  SEIZURE  OF  VESSELS. 

In  188()  a  large  fleet  of  sealing  vessels  was  engaged  in  Bering  Sea,  and  of  these  a 
mv.nDer  were  seized  by  the  Uuited  States  vessels  detailed  to  guard  the  islands, 
among  them  tliree  Oanadiau  schooners,  the  Carolina,  the  (hiimnl,  and  the  Tliorntun. 
The  fleet  was  still  further  increased  in  the  following  year  and  more  seizures  were 
made.  Against  tiie  seizure  of  Canadian  vessels  Great  Britain  protested,  and  from 
the  residtiug  correspondence  the  fur-seal  (piestion,  as  we  now  know  it,  arose. 

EFFORTS  TO  SECURE  INTERNATIONAL  COOPERATION. 

Ikcalizing  the  danger  which  threatened  its  fur-seal  herd  in  the  rai)id  expansion  of 
pelagic  sealing,  and  especially  in  its  extension  to  tlu'  waters  adjacent  to  the  breeding- 
grounds,  the  United  States,  in  1887,  opened  up  a  correspondence  with  the  (iovern- 
ments  of  Clerinany,  Sweden  and  Norway,  Ivussia,  .lapan,  and  (Ireat  IJritain  with  a 
view  to  such  international  cooperation  as  should  secure  the  protection  of  the  herd. 
Secretary  Bayard,  in  his  letter  to  these  several  (iovcrnments,  called  attention  to  the 
fact  that  '•  the  uiuegulated  and  indiscriminate  killing  of  the  .seals  in  many  parts  of  the 
world  has  driven  them  from  place  to  place,  and  by  breaking  n\>  their  habitual  resorts 
has  greatly  reduced  their  numbers."  He  predicted  a  similar  result  to  tli.>  seals  of  the 
northern  lieMiisphere,  unless  steps  were  taken  for  their  protection.  Nothing  came  of 
this  corresponlcnce. 

PROPOSED  MEASURES  OF  PROTECTION 

In  the  year  1888  Secretary  Bayard  ])ropose(l  to  (lieat  ISrilain  that  by  mutual 
arrangement  among  the  nations  interested  there  should  bo  established  a  close  season 


l.">184- 


i 


'  See  Coot  note  to  pag<>  i42. 


177 


-12 


I,  ... 


i 


IP  I 


if  i . 


178 


THE    FUR   SEALS   OF   THE    I'HIBILOF   ISLANDS. 


for  the  fnr  seals  bej^iiiiiiii;;  with  April  L't  and  endiu^'  witli  November  1,  mid  also  a 
t'losi'd  /one  covering  the  waters  of  Hering  Sea  between  the  one  hundred  and  sixtieth 
degree  of  west  longitude  and  the  one  hundred  and  seventieth  degree  of  east  longitude, 
north  of  the  liftietU  degree  of  north  latitude.  This  pionosition  was  assented  to  by 
Lord  Salisbury  on  behalf  of  Great  Itritain,  vitli  the  stipulation,  in  deference  to  the 
wish  of  the  Government  of  Russia,  that  the  provisions  of  such  an  arrangement  shouhl 
be  extended  to  the  waters  of  Bering  Sea  in  tvhich  the  ('ommauder  Islands  are  situated 
and  also  to  the  Sea  of  Okhotsk.    This  extiiision  was  agreed  to  by  the  United  States. 

OBJECTION  BY  CANADA. 

When  the  negotiations  looking  to  an  agreement  on  this  basis  were  on  the  point 
of  a  8ttcce8i5tul  termination  they  were  suddenly  brought  to  a  standstill  by  objections 
on  the  part  of  Canada,  (ireat  Britain  (leelined  to  further  consider  the  matter 
without  the  coutieut  of  Canada,  whicli  could  not  be  obtained. 

THE  RENEWAL  OF  NEGOTIATIONS. 

In  viev>  'if  this  state  of  affairs  United  States  vessels  in  1889  renewed  the  seizure 
of  sealing     (  This  action  had  been  waived  tlie  jtreeeding  year  in  view  of 

the  favorable  ess  of  the  negotiations.    In  the   spring  of  1890,  Great  Britain 

suggested  that  Um  tripartite  arrangement  wliicii  was  dropped  in  1888  be  resumed. 
This  suggestion  was  accompanied  by  a  cliange  on  lier  i)art  of  the  original  proposition. 
It  was  now  asked  tiuit  an  inquiry  be  made  by  a  mixed  commission  of  experts,  and 
that  pending  the  results  of  tlieir  labors  i)elagic  sealing  siiould  be  prohibited  in  the 
waters  of  Bering  Sea,  the  sea  of  Okhotsk,  and  adjoining  waters,  during  the  months 
of  May  and  June  and  during  the  mouths  of  October,  November,  and  December,  and 
at  all  times  within  a  radius  of  10  miles  of  the  l>r<^eding  islands. 

THE  COUNTER  PROPOSITION  UNSATISFACTORY. 

To  appreciate  the  nature  of  this  coutiter  proposition  it  must  be  borne  in  'nitid  that 
the  summer  months  excej)ted  from  this  close  season  are  tlie  only  ones  in  which  the 
breeding  sei»ls  are  regularly  in  Bering  Sea.  Secretary  Blaine,  who  had  succeeded 
Secretary  Bayard,  in  <leclining  this  i>roposition,  called  attention  to  its  radically 
different  nature  from  the  one  originally  accepted.  The  unreasonableness  of  the 
proposition  seemed,  in  Mi.  Blaine's  estimation,  sullicient  warrant  for  breaking  off 
the  negotiations,  but  as  he  intimated  they  were  continued  by  the  United  States  in 
the  hope  of  reaching  a  better  understanding. 

PROPOSALS  FOR  ARBITRATION. 

After  much  fruitless  correspondence  in  an  effort  to  secure  the  suspension  of 
pelagic  sealing  pending  further  negotiations,  Mr.  Blaine,  on  the  part  of  the  I'nited 
States,  submitted  a  series  of  propositions  which,  in  his  opinion,  might  furnish  the 
basis  of  an  arbitration  looking  to  the  final  settlement  of  the  matters  in  disi>ute. 
These  propositions  were  six  in  number.  The  first  five  provided  for  a  determination 
of  the  tpiestions  of  jurisdictional  rights  in  Bering  Sea  exercised  by  Russia  and 
transferred  to  the  United  States,  and  of  the  property  rights  and  rights  of  protection 
which  the  United  States  possessed  over  the  seals  when  beyond  the  ordinary 
territorial  waters  about  the  islands. 


COMMISSKJN   OF    INQUIRY. 


179 


also  ii 
sixtieth 
igituile, 
d  to  by 
B  to  tlie 
t  sliouUl 
situated 
1  States. 


the  point 
bjections 
e  luattcr 


le  seizure 
1  view  of 
t  Britain 
resumed, 
•oposition. 
perts,  and 
ited  in  the 
lie  months 
mber,  and 


'iiind  thill 

which  the 

sacceed(Hl 

radically 

Us  of  the 

leaking  oft' 

States  in 


l\)enaion  of 
The  Tnited 
furnish  the 
lin  dispute, 
germination 
lussia  and 
protection 
|e  ordinary 


In  tlie  event  of  an  adverse  decision  for  the  Tnited  States  on  these  h  ijal 
questions,  tiie  Hiial  proposition  provided  that  the  court  of  arbitration  shoukl  take  ui) 
u  consideration  of  the  rules  and  reguhitions  necessary  for  the  ])roper  protection  of 
the  lierd  when  at  sea  and  beyond  the  Jurisdiction  of  the  United  States.  These 
l)ropositions,  after  ainendmetit  and  discussion,  were  finally  accejtted  as  tiio  basis  of 
an  arbitrati<tn  and  were  embodied  in  a  treaty  between  the  United  States  and  Gieat 
Britain,  signed  on  •'"'ebruary  21),  1892,  and  duly  ratified.  This  treaty  is  printed  iu 
Appendix  II  of  this  report. 

THE  MODUS  VIVENDI. 

While  the  discussion  of  the  treaty  was  under  way,  and  in  view  of  its  ])rol>able 
consummation,  a  modus  viveiidi  was  agreed  to  in  June,  1891,  which  closed  Bering  Sea 
to  pelagic  sealing  and  limited  the  land  catch  on  tlie  islands  to  a  nominal  figure  for 
the  support  of  the  natives  dejjending  upon  the  fur  seals  for  food.  The  promulgation  of 
this  measure  was  too  late  in  tlie  season  to  nnike  it  possible  of  enforcement,  the  jielagic 
tieet  having  already  gone  to  sea.  After  the  signing  of  the  treaty  iu  the  following  year 
this  niodu"'  vivendi  was  renewed  and  coutinued  iu  force  until  the  conclusion  of  the 
labors  of  the  arbitration  convention.  The  text  of  the  agreement  will  be  found  iu 
Appendix  II. 

THE  JOINT  COMMISSION  OF  INQUIRY. 

In  the  progress  of  the  discussion  leading  up  to  the  conventiou  of  February,  1892, 
it  was  decided  that  a  commission  of  experts  representing  each  Government  should 
visit  the  seal  islands  and  report  on  the  habits  and  condition  of  tlie  fur-seal  herd  with 
a  view  to  the  inforniatioii  of  the  arbitration  convention.  To  expedite  matters  this 
commission  was  tentatively  designated  and  entered  upon  its  work  in  the  siimnier  of 
1891,  being  otlicially  recognized  after  the  treaty  was  tinaliy  agreed  to  in  the  spring  of 
1892. 

THE  TRIBUNAL  OF  ARBITRATION., 

In  ac(!ordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  treaty  of  1892  the  Tribunal  of  Arbitration 
duly  convened  at  Paris  in  February,  1893,  and  concluded  its  labors  on  the  15th  of 
August.  Its  decision  of  the  legal  questions  involved  being  adverse  to  the  United 
States,  the  Tribunal  proceeded  to  formulate  regulations  for  the  i)rotection  and 
preservation  of  the  fur  seals. 

JOINT  REPORT  OF  THE  COMMISSION. 

Before  taking  up  a  detailed  consideration  of  tiiesc  regulations  it  will  assist  us  in 
our  under.standing  of  them  to  consider  brietly  the  results  of  the  investigations  on 
which  they  were  based.  The  Joint  commission  of  investigation  representing  the 
United  States  and  threat  Britain,  after  its  visit  to  the  islands  in  the  summer  of  1891, 
met  at  Washington  in  the  spring  of  1892,  and  after  much  discussion  found  itself 
unable  to  agree  upon  any  facts  of  importance  beyond  the  general  jiroijosition  that 
the  fur-seal  herd  had  largely  declined  and  that  nnin  was  responsible  for  the  decline. 
Accordingly,  each  commission  of  investigation  submitted  a  seiiarate  n^port  to  its 
(Tovernment.  Tliese  reports  became  the  basis  of  each  nation's  contention  before  the 
Tribunal  regarding  the  condition  and  habits  of  the  fur  seals. 


n:i 


180 


THE    FUU    SEALS   OF   THE   PKIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


THE  AMERICAN  CONTENTION. 


I 


I     I 


ili 


i    *■    1 


If 


The  AinericiMi  contention  was  in  brief  that  the  decline  of  the  herd  was  duo  to 
pelajjic  sealinj;';  that  pelagic  killing  was  indiscriminate,  the  female  sex  prcdonunating 
in  the  catch;  that  these  females  when  killed  oil'  the  Northwest  Coast  in  the  spring 
were  gravid,  and  when  killed  on  their  feeding  excursions  in  l?ering  Sea  were  nursing, 
and  left  dependent  pups  upon  the  rookeries  whose  death  resulted  from  starvation. 

THE  BRITISH  CONTENTION. 

The  British  contention,  on  the  other  hand,  held  that  the  proportion  of  females  in 
the  pelagic  catch  was  comoaratively  unimportant  and  composed  chiefiy  of  barren 
cows;  that  nursing  females  did  not  leave  the  islands  while  their  pups  were 
dependent  upon  tlieni ;  that  in  case  they  did  so  leave  and  were  killed,  their  young 
could  be  nursed  by  other  <!Ows  or  could  subsist  on  food  procured  from  the  sea. 
Having  thus  disposed  of  the  contention  of  the  United  States,  a  counter  proposition 
was  set  ui»  that  land  killing  as  practiced  on  the  islands  rather  than  sea  killing  was 
responsible  lor  the  decline  of  the  herd. 

THEIR  COMPARATIVE  MERITS. 

It  is  not  the  intention  at  this  point  to  discuss  the  comparative  merits  of  these 
contentions.  They  have  been  fully  treated  in  the  preceding  pages.  It  is  suHicient 
here  to  say  that  subsequent  events  have  conclusively  pioved  the  essential  truth  of 
the  American  contention  and  the  falsity  of  the  British  counter  claims.  From  the 
contlici'iig  evidence  brought  before  the  Tribunal,  it  is  not  strange  that  the  regulations 
forniuliiied  by  it — which  are  a  blind  ert'ort  at  compromise — are  an  utter  failure  for  the 
purpose  for  which  they  were  intended. 

B.  THE  REGULATIONS  OF  THE  AWARD. 

The  regulations  are  published  in  full  in  Appendi.v  II  to  this  report,  together  with 
a  more  extended  account  of  the  Tribunal  of  Arbitration  itself.  We  may  here  briefly 
summarize  the  provisions  of  these  regulations  as  follows:  (I)  the  establishment  of  a 
closed  zone  ab^  it  the  I'rlbilof  Islands  of  a  radius  of  CO  miles;  (2)  a  cU)sed  season 
from  the  1st  of  May  to  the  JJlst  of  .July;  (3)  the  restriction  of  pelagic  sealing  to 
sailing  vessels  and  undecked  boats  and  canoes;  (4)  the  ret|uii'ement  of  a/special  license 
and  tlag  by  sealing  vessels;  (5)  a  recoi'd  of  the  place,  number,  and  sex  of  seals  taken; 
{«»)  a  proticiency  reipiirement  on  the  i)ait  of  those  engaging  in  the  business;  (7)  the 
exeiii))tioii  of  Indians  on  the  Northwest  Coast  from  the  provisions  of  the  regulations; 
(8)  a  provision  for  the  reconsideration  of  the  regulations  at  the  end  of  live  years  if 
found  to  be  inadeijuate.  These  regulations  were  put  into  ojteration  by  a[)propriate 
legislation  both  by  the  United  States  amUheat  Britain  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1894. 

THE  MINOR  PROVISIONS. 

The  minor  provisions  of  the  regulations  we  need  n(»t  dwell  upon.  Sailing  vessels 
are  doubtless  the  only  ones  which  can  profitably  be  used  in  the  business.  The  license 
and  flag  are  no  doubt  useful,  but  immaterial.  The  prohibition  of  firearms  in  Bering 
Sea  is  a  provision  wholly  in  the  interests  of  the  sealers.  The  proticiency  requirement 
borders  <m  the  ridiculous.    Exemption  of  the  Northwest  Coast  Indians  is  .just  and 


EFFKCTS   OF   THE   RKGULATIONS. 


181 


as  duo  to 
omiuatiiig 
;he  spring 
e  nursing, 
vatiou. 


females  in 
of  barren 
l^ups  were 
heir  young 
m  the  sea. 
proposition 
killiug  was 


■its  of  these 
is  sufiicient 
tial  trntli  of 
From  the 
1  regulations 
lilure  tor  the 


)gether  with 
here  briefly 
jnieut  of  a 
sed  season 
sealing  to 
ecial  license 
seals  taken ; 
less;  (7)  the 
egulations; 
five  years  if 
appropriate 
le  \ear  1894. 


iliug  vessels 

The  license 

ns  in  Bering 

requirement 

is  just  and 


proper,  but  the  discrimination  against  the  Aleuts  on  the  shores  of  Bering  Sea  is 
unjust.  Tlie.se  reciuirements,  one  and  all,  have  absolutely  no  bearing  upon  the  welfare 
of  the  seals. 

The  requirement  regarding  the  record  by  the  sealing  captains  of  the  sex  of 
animals  taken  was  a  useful  one,  as  providing  a  meaus  for  the  securing  of  valu.ible 
data  bearing  upon  the  effects  of  the  regulations.  The  method  was,  however, 
unfortunate,  and  for  the  very  natural  reason  that  it  could  not  be  expected  that  the 
.sealers  would  take  the  trouble  to  make  honest  reports  which  must  be  injurious  in  the 
highest  degree  to  their  business.  The  sequel  shows,  as  we  have  already  pointed  out, 
that  they  can  not  be  depended  upon  for  correct  information. 

THE  SIXTY-MILE  ZONE. 

The  remaining  provisions  are  more  vital.  The  OOmile  zone  about  the  islands  lias 
a  positive  value  in  keeping  vessels  at  such  distance  from  the  rookeries  as  to  make 
successful  raiding  impossible.  When  we  have  said  this  regarding  the  protected  zone, 
we  have  stated  its  oidy  importance.  The  feeding  grounds  of  tlie  seals  lie  Air  outside 
of  its  limits.  0\\  the  journeys  to  and  from  tlie  grounds  the  seals  do  nrc  lo'ter  much 
in  the  protected  area.  A  protected  zone,  to  be  of  any  value,  should  cover  and 
include  the  feeding  grounds  to  which  the  nursing  females  resort. 

THE  CLOSE  SEASON. 

liie  provision  for  a  close  season  is  of  more  importance,  though  even  its  value  is 
by  no  means  great.  It  shuts  off  that  catch  which  was  formerly  made  in  May  along 
the  southern  shore  of  the  Alaskan  Peninsula  and  the  Aleutian  Islands.  This  catch 
was  unusually  destructive,  because  the  females  were  growing  heavy  with  pup.  Under 
the  regulations  these  animals,  which  have  escaped  from  the  hunters  off  the  coast  in 
March  and  April,  are  allowed  to  continue  their  way  in  i)oaee  to  the  it^lands.  During 
June  and  July  they  .are  protected,  but  as  they  then  sjjend  a  large  part  of  the  time  on 
shore  the  i)rotection  is  not  so  important  as  it  seems. 

REGULATIONS  ADAPTED  TO  WORK  OF  SEALERS. 

As  if  suited  to  the  needs  of  the  sealers  and  against  tliose  of  the  seals,  the  sea  is 
opened  on  the  lat  of  August  at  the  time  when,  under  the  necessity  of  furnishing 
nourishment  for  their  growing  oflFspring,  the  mother  seals  are  forced  to  spend  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  on  the  feeding  grounds.  To  understand  fully  the  destructive 
force  of  this  month  of  August,  it  is  only  necessary  to  observe  that  in  the  spring  the 
herd  is  constantly  moving  on,  and  there  is  more  or  less  difticulty  in  locating  it.  In 
Bering  Sea  the  seals  frequent  certain  feeding  banks  regularly,  coming  and  going  at 
intervals.  If  a  seal  is  not  taken  at  her  first  trip,  other  opportunities  will  occur  on  her 
second  and  subsequent  trips.  The  sealer  has  only  to  wait  for  her,  and  in  the  meantime 
go  on  taking  other  seals. 

Tlie  close  season,  therefore,  offers  little  protection  to  the  female  fur  seal.  It 
permits  her  to  escape  at  one  place  and  time  only  to  allow  her  to  be  taken  sit  another 
and  more  favorable  time  and  place.  It  saves  her  from  death  before  the  birth  f»f  her 
oflf'spring  only  to  leave  her  liable  to  be  killed  after  it  is  born  and  to  subject  her 
oft'spring  t<»  death  by  starvation. 


^ 


182 


THE    KUR    SEALS   OF    THE    I'KIHILOF    ISIiANDS. 


;  ■• 


\  :  I 


To  tliu  iiulajiic  scaler  the  close  season  ott'ers  no  impeilinient  an'l  entails  no  loss, 
lie  can  rest  assured  that  the  seals  he  is  prevented  from  takinf>"  in  the  N(ntli  PaciHc 
will  be  more  easily  taken  in  Herin}?  Sea  in  Anj^usl,  when  the  storms  of  the  early 
summer  are  over  and  the  conditions  in  every  way  more  favorable.  In  the  meantime 
he  is  {jiven  opportunity  to  reiit  his  vessel,  «)r  he  may  cross  over  to  the  Asiatic  8i<le  at 
the  beginninft  of  the  close  season  and  prey  npon  the  Commander  hei  d  before  returning 
to  iJering  Sea  in  August. 

On  the  whole,  it  is  dillicnlt  to  see  how  a  more  comfortable  and  convenient  set  of 
regulations  could  have  been  prepared  had  the  pelagic  sealers  themselves  drawn  them 
np.  it  is  (litiicult  to  see  how  they  could  be  made  more  destructive  to  the  herd  if  that 
had  been  their  deliberate  intent. 

THE  COST  OF  ENFORCING  THE  REGULATIONS. 

It  is  not  enough,  however,  that  these  regnlations  legalize  the  destruction  of  the 
herd.  They  are  necessarily  maintained  at  a  tremendons  cctst.  Tiie  (Jovernnient  of 
the  United  States  paid  for  the  maintenance  of  its  patrol  in  the  North  Pacitic  and  in 
Bering  Sea  daring  the  i)erio(l  from  April  to  0(ttober,  1890,  the  snm  of  $17(»,3Ht>.l)J. 
The  cost  to  (ireat  lUitain  for  her  share  in  the  patrol  was  smaller,  but  yet  a 
considerable  sum. 

THE  FAILURE  OF  THE  REGULATIONS. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  state  that  the  regulations  of  the  Paris  Award  have 
proved  a  signal  failure.  As  has  already  been  shown,  the  herd  has  continued  to 
decline  steadily  under  them.  The  herd  sutt'ered  its  greatest  loss  under  the  tir.st  year 
of  their  operation,  when  (}1,(HK>  animals  were  taken  at  sea.  In  the  year  189(5,  of  the 
catch  taken  in  Bering  Sea,  <S4  per  cent  were  females,  practically  all  of  them  pregnant 
and  having  nursing  pups  dependent  upon  them.  Between  the  seasons  of  189ti  and 
1897  tlie  breeding  herd  suffered  a  diminution  of  fnmi  12  to  15  per  cent,  notwithstand- 
ing the  fact  that  the  i)elagic  catch  had  largely  declined  through  the  exhaustion  of  the 
herd.  To  this  it  is  only  necessary  to  add  that  under  the  rigid  patrol  which  has  been 
maintained  the  regulations  have  been  strictly  enfon-ed  and  fully  complied  with.  No 
further  condenniation  of  these  measures  for  the  "i)rotection  and  preservation  of  the 
.  seals"  could  be  expected. 

THE  REDEEMING  FEATURE  OF  THE  REGULATIONS. 

The  one  redeeming  feature  about  the  regulations  is  the  final  provision  for  their 
reconsideration  and  revision.  The  only  difficulty  here  is  that  the  trial  period  fixed  at 
five  years  was  too  long.  One  season  would  have  been  sufficient  to  test  them.  They 
were  calculated  to  show  their  (piality  at  once.  As  a  nnitter  of  fact  it  was  clearly 
demonstrated  by  the  recorded  catch  of  the  first  season  of  their  operation  that  they 
had  stimulated  rather  than  retarded  [)elagic  sealing  and  consequently  had  heightened 
the  decline  of  the  herd.  That  a  fleet  of  87  vesselt:  in  the  first  yt^ar  of  the  operation 
of  the  regulations  should  have  been  able  to  take  61,000  seals,  whereas  115  vessels, 
in  1891,  before  pelagic  sealing  was  interfered  with,  took  but  59,000,  was  clear  enough 
evidence  that  the  regulations  had  only  altered  matters  for  the  worse. 


4 


OHt-I(»ATI(>N    TO    TROTKCT   THE    8PULS. 


188 


THE  PURPOSE  OF  THE  ARBITRATORS. 

The  tliiul  provision  of  the  rugiilatioiiH  has  another  feature  of  importance — it 
(letlnes  the  purpose  of  their  foriiuihition.  Thia  is  ''the  protection  and  preservation  of 
the  fur  seals."  It  is  fortunate  that  tlie  Tribunal  of  Arbitration  i>laced  this  matter  ou 
record,  as  otiierwise  its  work  in  framing  these  measures  would  be  witiioutjustitication 
and  its  own  sincerity  could  be  called  into  ((iiestion.  Truth  enough  to  condemn  eveiy 
feature  of  the  regulations  was  placed  before  the  Tribuiuil,  but  tln'  real  issues  were  so 
thoroughly  confused  by  the  statements  n.ade  in  opposition  that  the  outcome  was  a 
matter  of  chance.  This  is  the  only  explanation  which  can  be  ottered  for  the  irrecon- 
cilable ditterence  between  tlie  evident  purpose  and  the  atrtual  achievenuMit  of  the 
regulations. 

THE  OBLIGATION  TO  PROTECT  AND   PRESERVE. 

This  statement  of  the  purpose  of  the  Tribunal  has  another  important  bearing.  It 
leaves  no  doubt  that  the  obligation  to  protect  and  preserve  the  fur  seals  was  laid  upon 
the  two  nations  concerned  by  their  acceptance  of  the  decision.  From  all  this  it  must 
follow  that  at  the  close  of  the  trial  period  of  live  years,  if  not  before,  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  must  take  up  seriously  the  reconsideration  of  these  regulations, 
and  by  their  emendation  or  by  the  substitution  of  more  adequate  measures  provide 
for  what  was  plainly  the  object  of  the  Tribunal  of  Arbitration,  namely,  the  protection 
and  preservation  of  the  fur-seal  hei'd. 


It 


!ia 


^ 


r^ 


RHP 


I 


.     » 


r  II  A  1'  I'  V.  R  \^'  I . 

SUMMARY  OF  CONCLUSIONS. 

liefore  passiiifj  to  ii  <'oiisi(lerati()ii  of  the  tiiial  topic,  the  remedy  for  the  cnnditioii 
of  tlie  herd,  we  iiiiiy  give  the  toliowiu};  brief  statement  of  the  chief  faets  coiicei  iiiiig 
the  fur-seal  herd  wiiicli  have  a  bearing  on  its  Intiire  protection  and  preservation. 
Tliis  statement,  while  in  a  sense  a  summary  of  the  preceding  discussions,  was 
originally  prepared  by  Messrs.  IJandin  and  Jordan,  the  American  delegates  to  the 
recent  Fur-Seal  Conference  at  Washington,  for  the  use  of  the  couferen«!e.  A  few  of 
the  estimates  here  given  may  be  open  to  difl'ereuce  of  opinion,  bat  in  general  the 
accuracy  of  these  statements  has  not  been  questioned  and  can  not  be: 

STATEM'SNTS  OF  FACT. 

The  delegates  of  the  Unit'id  States  present  for  the  consideration  of  tlio  meeting 
of  experts  the  followii;t;  statements  of  fact  regarding  the  condition  of  the  fur-seal 
herd  resorting  to  the  Pribiiof  Islands: 

1.  Since  the  year  1885  the  fur-seal  herd,  as  measured  by  its  breeding  females,  has 
steadily  declined  in  numbers  at  a  rate  varying  from  j'ear  to  year. 

2.  The  best  available  measure  of  this  decline  is  found  in  these  facts: 

(fl)  During  the  period  between  1871  and  1885  no  difficulty  was  experienced  in 
obtaining  eacli  year  100,000  male  seals  of  recognized  killable  age  by  the  20th  of  July. 

(Ii)  In  180(i  «)idy  30,000  killable  seals  were  taken  after  continuing  the  driving 
until  July  27,  and  in  1897  only  20,8!>0  were  taken  after  continuing  the  driving  until 
August  1 1. 

3.  From  this  and  other  data  it  would  appear  that  the  herd  of  breeding  females  on 
the  Pribiiof  Islands  in  the  years  1871-1885  must  have  been  about  live  times  as  great 
as  at  present,  or  from  600,000  to  700,000  in  number. 

I.  The  natural  life  of  the  female  fur  seal  is  estimated  at  from  ten  to  flfteen  years. 
Assuming  thirteen  years  as  an  average,  each  female  would  have  ten  years  of  breeding 
life.  If  this  be  true,  10  per  cent  of  the  breeding  females  die  of  old  age  each  winter  in 
addition  to  the  unknown  losses  from  other  causes.  The  stock  of  breeding  females  is 
recruited  solely  by  the  accession  each  year  of  3-year-old  cows. 

5.  The  natural  death  rate  among  the  young  fur  seals,  especially  among  the  pups, 
is  very  great.  At  present  about  two-thirds  die  from  natural  causes  before  they  reach 
the  age  of  3  years,  or  killable  age  for  the  males  and  breeding  age  for  the  females. 

0.  The  chief  natural  causes  of  death  among  the  pups  are: 

(«)  Havages  of  the  parasitic  worm,  Uncinaria,  infesting  sandy  breeding  areas. 

(b)  Trampling  by  lighting  or  moving  bulls  and  cows. 

(f)  Starvation  of  pups  strayed  or  separated  from  their  mothers  when  very  young. 

(d)  Ravages  of  the  great  killer  ( Orca). 

(e)  Drowning  in  the  storms  of  winter. 

184 


I 


STATEMENTS    OF    IWrTR. 


185 


\ie  pups, 

^y  reach 
Lies. 


ireas. 


young. 


The  natural  h)»He»  from  uther  causes  are  relatively  aniall. 

7.  Cuunts  and  estimates  show  tliat  the  number  of  breeUiuK  t'emaleH  bearint;  pu|)8 
on  the  rookeries  (tf  St.  I'aul  anil  St.  George  in  181MJ  was  alM)ut  la7,(M)(>  and  in  1.SU7 
about  130,(NM). 

8.  On  certain  rookeries  pups  were  coaate4l  during  both  seasons.  Where  1(5,241 
were  i'ound  in  1890,  11,318  were  found  in  181>7,  a  decrease  of  about  12  per  cent.  The 
liarems  on  all  the  rookeries  were  counted  during  both  seasons.  In  18!MJ  tlu're  were 
4,9.'{2;  in  1807,  4,418,  a  decrease  of  10.41  per  cent.  The  cows  actually  jtresent  on 
certain  rookeries  at  the  height  of  the  season  were  counted  both  seasons.  Where 
10,108  were  found  in  1806,  7,307  were  found  in  1807,  a  decrease  of  28.34  per  cent. 

0.  It  is  not  possible  to  state  absolutely  the  decline  in  the  actual  number  of 
breeding  cows  from  1800  to  1807,  but  it  is  not  far  from  15  per  cent. 

10.  The  number  of  killable  seals  taken  on  the  islands  in  1807  shows  a  decrease  of 
about  3(»  per  cent  from  the  number  taken  in  1800.  This  repnssents  approximately  the 
decrease  in  the  3-year-old  breeders  which  entered  the  rookeries  in  1807,  the  number 
of  males  and  females  born  being  practically  equal. 

11.  Land  killing  is  not  now  a  factor  in  the  decline  of  the  herd,  and  has  not  been 
since  the  islands  came  into  the  possession  of  the  United  States.  It  has  not  caused 
injury  to  the  breeding  herd  either  by  undue  reduction  in  the  number  of  males  or  by 
impairing  their  virility,  or  in  any  other  way. 

12.  Laud  killing  has  tended  to  increase  the  si/.e  of  the  breeding  herd  by  the 
reduction  of  the  number  of  adult  bulls  and  their  conse(|uent  lighting,  which  results 
in  the  destruction  of  females  and  pups. 

13.  No  apprechible  partof  the  declineof  the  herd  is  due  to  illegal  killing  or  killing 
in  detiauce  of  the  regulations  of  the  I'aris  award. 

14.  The  reduction  in  the  breeding  herd  has  been  due  to  the  killing''  of  females  at 
sea,  with  the  resulting  starvation  of  nursing  pups  and  the  destruciticaj  o/  unburn  pups. 

15.  Pelagic  sealing  necessarily  involves  indiscriminate  killing  of  males  and 
females.  The  greater  proportion  of  the  animals  taken  in  the  pelagic  c.itch  are  females. 
The  statistics  for  the  American  catch,  obtained  by  expert  examination  in  tiu>,  custom- 
houses, show  an  average  of  78  i)er  cent  for  the  years  1804,  189."),  and  1800.  The 
examination  of  pelagic  skius  in  London  confirms  this  percentage.' 

10.  The  natural  increase  of  the  breeding  herd  is  about  lOij  i)er  cent  each  year,  being 
one-half  of  the  surviving  3-year-olds.  The  natural  death  rate  from  old  age  each  year 
is  not  far  from  10  per  cent.  The  death  rate  of  adults  from  other  causes  can  not  be 
accurately  estimated.  The  killing  of  females  by  the  hand  of  man  therefore  can  not 
I'each  Off  per  ceut  of  the  total  number  each  year  without  involving  the  decline  of  the 
herd.    If  the  herd  is  to  be  restored,  the  killing  of  female  seals  should  not  be  i)ermitted. 

17.  As  neither  land  killing  nor  sea  killing  now  yieh's  a  profit  for  the  money 
invested  and  for  the  money  si)ent  in  protection,  the  fur-seal  herd  is  therefore,  from  a 
commercial  point  of  view,  virtually  destroyed.  But  this  has  not  involved  tiie 
biological  destruction  of  the  herd.  Under  wise  protection  it  may  regain  its  former 
numbers. 


■To  this  may  bo  added  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Halkett,  nbtainods  ime  the  original  preparatiun  of 
this  statumeut,  showing  the  2>erccatage  of  Ibinales  iu  tho  Uering  ijua  uiitch  I'ur  IH'M>  U>  lie  81  per  cuut. 


-I  i 


^ 


1 


/ 


P"! 


'?,  !i! 


18(1 


THK    FI;K    8EAI-8   OF   TIIK    I'UIHILOI"    ISLANKS. 


1      I 


18.  Ill  onr  ,ju(l<;iiuMit,  nil  facts  in  any  way  vital  t«  iiiteriiatiniial  action  rogardinf; 
tiic  i>roto(;tioii  and  preHcrvation  ctt'  tlie  fiir-aeal  iiercl  mv.  now  in  tiic  posHUHHioii  of  hotli 
(lovernin<'iitH. 

ll>.  riit'se  tacts  hIiow  that  tho  lierd  lias  larjjoly  doclined  ii-oui  its  original  condition 
and  tVom  its  condition  in  18{)I  and  in  18i)4;  that  it  is  .itill  decliniii},',  and  that  tlie 
cause  of  flic  decline  is  the  slanglitcr  of  females  involved  in  pelagic  sealing. 

20.  The  regulations  of  the  Piiris  award  have  proved  inetfective  to  protect  and 
l)re8erve  the  herd.  They  have  not  prevented  its  decline,  which  has  continued  and 
must  continue  in  spite  of  them.  They  can  not  bring  about  a  restoration  of  the  herd, 
as  tliey  i»eiiuit  the  killing  of  females  in  numbers  vastly  in  excess  of  their  natural 
increase. 


H 


omi^* 


r  both 


dition 
it  the 


CIIAPTKIl    XVII, 


;t  and 
(1  and 
)  herd, 
aturul 


THE  REMEDY  FOR  THE  DECLINE  OF  THE  HERD. 

We  have  thus  covered  tlio  first  three  diviHions  of  our  subject.  Wo  have  found 
the  seal  herd  diiuiiiishi'd  to  between  oiu'-tifth  and  out- aixtli  of  its  original  si/.e  and 
still  declining.  The  muse  of  this  decline  is  simply  un<l  .solely  the  slaughter  of  females 
at  sea.  The  imminence  of  the  danger  thus  threatened  to  the  herd  nniy  be  judged  by 
the  extent  of  the  loss  which  has  already  been  indicted  and  by  the  fact  that  at  the 
present  time  the  herd  is  commercially  ruined  both  ou  lau'l  and  at  sea.  The  regulations 
provided  for  the  i>rotection  and  preservation  of  the  herd  are  utterly  ineflective. 

REVISION  OF  THE  REGULATIONS  NOT  ADEQUATE. 

The  fourth  tlivision  of  our  intiuiry  must  therefore  be  short.  It  foUows,  of  course, 
that  some  radical  change  is  no(;essary.  This  (;an  not  bo  brought  about  by  alterations 
in  the  present  regulations  or  the  substitution  of  new  ones.  It  is  not  a  (|ucstiini  of  the 
regulation  of  pelagic  seali  g,  but  of  its  abolition  and  the  cessation  of  all  trattic  in  the 
skins  of  females.  The  nature  of  the  problem  is  such  tinit  the  killing  of  seals  at 
sea  in  auy  form  and  under  any  restrictions  that  can  be  made  effective  is  wholly 
incompatible  with  the  preservati<»n  and  restoration  of  the  herd. 

PELAGIC  SEALING  CAN  NOT  EXIST  WITHOUT  THE  KILLING  OF  FEMALES. 

It  is  impossible  to  distinguish  the  sex  of  the  animals  at  sea  and  so  exenii)t  the 
females.  It  is  immaterial  whether  the  animal  is  shot  or  speared,  so  long  as  it  is  killed. 
It  makes  no  difference  whether  the  female  is  killed  when  heavy  with  young  on  the 
migrations  or  whether  she  is  left  to  bring  forth  her  young  and  is  then  killed,  leaving 
the  youne  to  starve.  The  herd  could  be  commercially  ruined  in  the  single  month  of 
August  on  its  feeding  grounds  in  Bering  Sea,  even  if  all  other  sealing  were  prohii>ited. 
If  Bering  Sea  were  fully  closed,  the  concentration  of  the  operations  of  the  fleet  off 
the  Northwest  Coast  would  be  sulticieut  to  maintain  the  continued,  though  iterliaps 
slower,  decline  of  the  herd.  So  long  as  pelagic  sealing  exists  in  any  form  or  at  any 
time  or  place,  females  will  be  killed,  and  their  continued  slaughter  means  the  ultimate 
destruction  of  the  herd,  bicdogically  as  well  as  commercially. 

THE  TOTAL  PROHIBITION  OF  PELAGIC  SEALING  THE  ONLY  REMEDY. 

In  a  word,  there  is  no  remedy  for  the  present  decline  of  the  herd,  nor  lutpe  for  its 
restoration  and  preservation,  except  in  the  absolute  and  permanent  prohibition  of 
pelagic  sealing. 

187 


1      >»  ■.  «'"■ 


I! 


Tf     )  ■ 

Itii 


*   «l 


ClI  Al»  rFOU     X  \'  I  1  I  . 

THE  FUTURE  OF  THE  FUR-SEAL  HERD. 

A  RECONSIDERATION  OF  THE  QUESTION. 

With  the  seasdii  of  1898  will  rloso,  tlie  live  your  trial  ])<irio(l  of  the  ifignlutioiis 
of  tho  I'aris  Tribunal  of  Arbitration.  These  r»'<:;iiiations  were,  as  we  have  seen, 
forinuhitetl  for  lUv  "i>rote('tion  and  preservation  of  tlie  fur  seals."  In  the  treaty 
of  ISDw',  under  which  the  arbitration  was  eonvenee',.  "the  preservation  of  the  fur 
seal  in,  or  habitually  resortinji;  to,'' Berinjjf  Sea  was  expressly  desifrnated  as  i»art  of 
the  object  of  the  'onvention.  Furthermore,  in  the  declarations  whieh  the  tribunal 
luaile  to  the  respective  {jovernuients  concerned  we  find  that  "in  viow  of  the  (^itical 
condition  to  which  it  now  api)ears  certain  that  the  race  of  fur  seals  is  retiuced''  it 
was  reconunended  that  all  Uillinjr  of  seals,  whether  on  land  or  at  sea,  be  i)roiiibited 
for  an  a.yrced  jteriod  of  years.  Fioni  these  references,  it  imist  be  clear  that  the 
avowed  purpose  and  inteiiJion  of  the  Tribunal  of  Arbitration  was  to  nccouiplish 
the  protection  of  the  fur-seal  herd.  It  is  e<puilly  clear  that  tne  responsibility  for 
carryiufj  this  jinrpose  was  placed  upon  the  nations  concerned  in  the  arbitration  and 
which  accepted  its  decisio'- 

A  BASIS  FOR  THE  REOPENING  OF  THE  SUBJECT. 

In  ap))roachinjj  a  recousi<leration  of  the  regulations  the  two  nations  have  now 
a  much  clearer  knowledge  of  the  conditions  surrounding  the  piobleiu.  As  a  result 
of  the  recent  conference  of  American,  ]>ritish,  and  Canadian  fur-seal  exix-rts  at 
Washington,  an  agreement  as  to  facts  was  reached  sufliciently  broad  and  conclusive 
to  show  the  true  condition  of  the  herd,  the  cause  of  its  decline,  and  the  remedy. 
This  joint  agreement  will  be  found  in  full  in  Appendix  II  of  this  report.  \Ne  may 
here  briefly  summarize  its  conclusions: 

FINDINGS  OF  FACT. 
THE  DEri-INE, 

First,  it  is  found  that  the  fur-seal  herd  has  declined  largelj'  from  its  condition  in 
1884  down  to  tlie  date  of  the  insjtectiou  of  the  I'ookeries  in  18!>7.  This  meiiUS  that 
the  herd  has  continued  to  decline  under  the  regulations.  The  decrc  e  is  stated  as 
e(pud  to  Irom  two-thirds  to  fourtifths  of  its  nuiximum  size.  15etween  the  seasons  of 
18%  and  18!>7  the  rate  of  decline  is  found  froui  the  most  reliable  data  to  be  between 
9  and  12  per  cent.  For  this  same  period  the  pelagic  catch  has  itself  declined  fully 
one-half. 

SLOW  llAXE  OK  IN(n{EASE  IN   THE  HERD. 

Second,  it  is  found  that  the  natural  death  rate  among  the  seals,  especially  the 
young,  is  high,  so  that  but  one-half  to  one-third  of  those  born  attain  the  age  of  three 
years.  This  means  that  the  rate  of  increase  in  the  fur-seal  herd  under  the  best  of 
conditions  is  slow. 


i.  : 


I'lli:    HUIN   Ol'    THE    IIUUD. 


181) 


MALES  C/iJJ   UK   KILLKI)  AVITII    T:MI>TtNITV. 

Tliinl,  it  is  lagived  tliat  owing  to  the  polyfiiiiiunis  lial>it  of  tlie  fur  seal,  coupled 
with  an  equal  birth  rate  ol"  the  Hexes,  it  is  jM^fsible  r<»  remove  a  large  number  of  inah-s 
with  ini|iiinity,  and  that  the  operations  of  hund  killing  as  now  conuucted  do  not  alleit 
the  virility  of  tiie  males  or  fail  to  leave  au  adecpiate  snp]»ly  of  muh-  life  for  breeding 
purposes.  As  Ian  1  killing  has  idways  been  confined  to  the  males,  and  as  its  operations 
are  today  what  they  have  been  since  the  herd  came  into  American  (control,  excejit  in 
so  far  as  they  hav(^  been  improved,  this  means  that  hiihj  killing  is  not  and  has  n<»t 
been  a  fuctui'  iti  the  tlecline  of  the  herd. 


iiy 


dly 


EXOESSIVK   DESTIllTCTION   Ol'   Kini  Al.KS. 

Fourth,  it  is  agreed  that  jielagic  sealing  involves  the  killing  of  males  and  females 
alike  without  dis<riniination,  as  the  sexes  coexist  in  the  sea;  that  the  proportion  of 
females  taken  in  the  pelagic  catches  of  re<rent  years  has  been  from  <lli  to  .St  per  cent; 
that  the  females  so  taken  are  in  large  part  pregnant  and  ii'irsing,  their  deatii  involving 
the  death  of  tiieir  <»lfsi»ring.  It  is  a;;reed  that  this  abstraction  of  breeding  females, 
which  in  recent  years  has  been  largely  in  excess  of  the  natural  inclement  of  th«i  herd, 
has  goiH^  too  far,  and  has  cans(Ml  the  diminntion  found  in  the  herd.  In  other  words, 
jmt  in  jdain  terms,  this  means  that  pelagic;  sealing  has  been  the  cause  of  the  decline 
ill  the  fur-seal  herd. 

COMPROMISE   FINDINGS. 

It  is  al.so  agreed  tli  a.  limited  number  of  females,  within  the  natural  increment 
of  the  herd,  ma^\  be  killed  without  causing  actual  dimiaution.  It  is  Ibund  that  in 
the  rapid  decline  of  the  pelagic  catch  there  is  a  tendent-y  toward  e(piilibrium  at  this 
jMiint  of  safety.  It  is  farther  found  that  as  a  sjiecies  the  fur  seal  is  (ar  liom  being 
exterminated,  and  that  under  tiie  jiresent  conditions  of  i»rotection  such  extermination 
is  not  probable.  These  statements  are  .self-evident  truths,  though  wholly  irrelevant 
to  the  ([uestion.  We  have  already  discussed  this  .supposed  eciuilibrinm.  The  supposed 
safety  of  the  herd  as  a  species  is  made  to  depend  upon  the  maintenance  of  a  costly 
Iiatrol,  which  wouM  naturally  be  abandoned  by  the  United  States  if  it  saw  u>  hope 
of  iihe  retitoration  of  its  industry. 

THK   HEUl)   COMMEUCIALI.Y   Ul  INKI). 

Finally,  it  is  agreed  that  the  herd  in  its  present  condition  yields  but  an  inconsiderable 
return  either  to  the  lessees  of  the  islands  or  to  the  owners  of  the  pelagic  lleet.  In  a 
word,  it  is  agreed  that  the  fur-seal  herd  has  declined  until  it  is  coininercially  ruined 
both  on  land  and  at  sea;  that  land  killing  is  not  responsible  for  this  decline,  and  that 
pelagic  sealing  is  responsible. 

PELAGIC  SEALING   INCOMPATIBLE  WITH  PRESERVATION  OF  HERD. 

Wo  have  shown  clearly  '-Tiough  in  our  discu.ssion  of  the  methods  and  conditions 
of  ])elagi(-  sealing  th.it  the  i  intinuance  of  tli''  industry  in  any  form  is  inccmipatible 
with  the  preservation  and  restoration  of  the  fur-seal  herd.  In  taking  up  a 
reconsideration  of  the  matter  there  is  but  one  thing  to  do,  namely,  abolish  pelagic 
sealing;  in  other  words,  remove  the  cause  of  the  decline.  This  is  the  tiusk  which  must 
confi'out  the  Inited  States  and  (ireat  IJritain  as  well  at  the  do.so  of  the  season  of  181)8. 


■irl 


•I  .1. 


IIJO 


,fl 


i! 


TIIK    FCU    SEALS   OF   THE    PRIHILOF    ISLANDS. 
THE  SKIN  OF  A  FEMALE  TO  BE  CONTRABAND. 


As  h)  ways  and  iiieaus  for  accoinplishiiifjr  the  desired  end  we  have  iiothinj;  to 
oHer.  We  are  j^hid  to  be  able  to  call  attention  to  tlie  action  ot'our  (Jovernnieut  in  tiie 
passage  of  the  bill  forbidding  the  citizens  of  the  I'nited  States  to  engage  in  pelagic 
sealing.  NVe  may  suggest  that  should  (Jreat  Britain  enact  and  enforce  a  similar  law 
this  would  end  the  matter.  If  the  fur-seal  herd  is  to  be  preserved  its  breeding  females 
must  be  i»rotected  from  slaughter.  '1  o  make  tlie  skin  of  a  female  fur  Lseal  a  contraband 
article,  subjectt  to  seizure  and  conliscation  when  brought  into  a  port  of  a  civilized 
nation,  will  protect  her  from  slaugiiter. 

THE  PROPOSiED  EXTERMINATION  BY  SLAUGHTER  ON  THE  ROOKERIES. 

We  have  iiad  (»ccasion,  in  the  preliminary  reports  of  the  coniniission,  to  denounce 
a  method  of  settling  the  fur-seal  i|uestion,  which  has  already  rtMteived  nioie  attention 
than  it  merits,  namely,  the  extinction  of  the  herd  by  the  slaughter  of  the  aninuils  on 
their  breeding  grounds.  We  trust  that  the  day  is  passed  when  such  a  i)roi>osition 
wouhl  be  tolerated.  The  measure  is  siw  alioniinable  one,  without  a  single  redeeming 
feature.  It  would  condense  into  one  wholesale  act  all  the  objectionable  features  in 
pelagic  sealing,  against  which  we.  as  a  nation,  have  been  Ironi  the  lirst  conteiuling; 
and  it  would  lodge  upon  us  alone  and  for  all  time  the  odium  for  the  extermination  by 
a  barbarous  method  of  a  noble  race  of  animals.  The  riiite<l  States  can  not  atVord  to 
shirk  her  responsibility  for  the  protection  and  preservation  of  the  fur  seals  by  any 
.snch  makeshift.  It  remains  for  the  two  great  nations  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the 
fur-.seal  herd,  and  under  obligation  to  l<»ok  after  that  welfare,  to  liud  a  way  of  settling 
the  problem  that  shall  be  effective  and  houonible. 

THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  FUR-SEAL  HERD. 

We  have  already  had  occasi(Ui  to  refer  to  the  importance  of  the  fur  seal  herd  as 
a  property  investment,  adding  to  the  wealth  and  comfort  of  mankind.  Oreat  Ihitain 
aiul  the  Tnited  States  both  share  in  the  profits  to  be  derived  from  the  legitimate 
l»roduct  of  the  herd,  the  former  through  the  interests  of  her  citizens  in  the  preparation 
of  the  seal  skins  for  the  market,  the  latter  through  the  revenue  she  derives  under  her 
lease. 

In  its  i)reHent  condition  the  fur-seal  herd  is  sadly  reduced.  I'nder  the  expensive 
(ionditions  of  protection  necessitated  by  the  existence  of  jtelagic  sealing  the  profits  of 
its  produ«'t  on  land  are  eaten  up.  But  even  now,  if  the  present  expensive  patrol  could 
be  waived,  the  return  from  the  herd  wouhl  be  by  no  means  insi;.;nilicant.  Under  the 
ijuota  of  1897  the  revenue  to  the  <iovernmcnt  can  not  be  tar  from  $250,000,  5  per  cent 
on  an  investment  of  !{!r»,ooo,(K;o. 

A  STRONG  NUCLEUS  REMAINS. 

The  nucleus  of  the  herd  which  remains  is  strong  and  vigorous.  Under  proper 
con('iti«His  it  will  increase,  and  in  tifteen  or  twenty  yeais  should  e(|ual  its  maximum 
condition.  This  woidd  nu-an,  under  the  present  lease  of  the  islands,  a  revenue  in  lax 
uloue  of  !!!l,OtH>,000  annually.  Hut  with  proper  protection  the  product  of  the  herd 
from  the  start  would  increase  and  grow  as  the  herd  grows,  becoming  greater  each 
year,  until  normal  coiulitions  were  again  reached. 


.. 


CM  A  I' r  i;  I!   XIX. 


RECOMMENDATIONS. 

Assuiniiifj  that  t\\o  ftii-seiil  herd  will  ultimately  reci'ivc  that  iJiotectioii  which  it 
deserves,  it  is  in  order  tor  us  to  make  certain  recommendations  and  sngt;'ef^tioi»«  which 
naturally  grow  out  of  our  investifjations  of  the  past  two  seasons. 

INADEQUACY  OF  PAST  KNOWLEDGE. 

We  have  iiad  occasion  in  our  present  discussi(»n  to  point  out  the  faulty  and 
misleadiuff  character  of  uuicii  oftlie  information  whicii  has  been  pnblislu'd  concerniuf^-; 
tlie  fur-seal  herd.  It  is  not  necessary  to  recur  to  it  here.  We  must,  however,  note 
the  fact  that  between  tiie  first  two  investigations  instituted  by  the  (iovernnu'iit  a 
period  of  fifteen  years  eUipsed,  during  which  there  was  absolutely  no  provision  made 
for  obtaining  information  concerning  the  real  condition  of  its  breeding  herd. 

THE  AGENTS  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  NOT  INVESTIGATOilS. 

After  the  investigations  of  Mr.  Klliott,  covering  the  period  from  187L'  to  187(5, 
the  herd  was  given  over  to  untrained  meu,  who  were  not  prepared  to  conduct  the 
investigations  necessary  to  understand  the  nature  of  the  trust  they  were  set  to  guard. 
To  make  matters  worse,  these  men  were  speedily  replaced  by  others  equally  inex- 
perienced as  soon  as,  by  reason  of  practical  c(mtact  with  the  affairs  of  the  islands, 
they  began  to  acquire  some  knowledge  of  their  duties.  The  result  is  tliat  the  herd 
l)assed  unnoticed  from  its  state  of  maximum  ])rospeiity  into  one  t»f  rapid  decline,  and 
was  reduced  to  one-half  its  si/.e  before  tlie  (iovernmeut  or  its  agents  were  ma<'ivj  aware 
of  the  fact. 


ler 


THE  FAILURE  TO 


KSTAND  THE  CONDITION  OK  THE  HERD. 


iWt 


How  little  the  situation  was  uuderstc'd  in  l,S8i>  by  the  ottiicrs  of  the  (iovernmeut 
may  be  seen  from  the  fact  that  in  thai  year  the  agent  in  charge  of  the  islands 
reeouunended  that  tlie  (piota  of  killable  seal>  le  reduced  nom  KMt.ddO  to<>(»,(IO(),  wIumi. 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  hauling  grounds  we,re  only  caiiaMe  .a  tnrnishing  i'U,(HiO,  as 
the  year  18".l(>  disclosed. 

Through  lack  of  exjterience  in  dealing  witli  aniniais.  or  because  inlliieuced  by  tin' 
crude  notions  of  the  natives,  the  agents  of  tiie  Ciovei-  ment.  early  in  tiie  history  of  the 
herd,  estabiislu'd  the  tradition  that  tiie  seals  were  virtually  wihl  animals,  which  must 
be  left  severely  ah»ne  if  they  were  not  t«  be  driven  away.  Accordingly,  they  instituted 
stringent  rules  against  the  visitation  and  molestation  of  '  ceding  grounds.  These 
rules  were  ii.;t  only  enforced  against  the  natives  ami  i  visitors,  but  for  the  most 

part  they  were  so  rigidly  adhered  to  by  the  agents  themselves  that  they  too  renmined 
in  practical  ignorance  of  the  real  condition  of  the  herd. 


••T 


T 


mm 


mmmm 


l» 


:i 


|if 


f  U 


V. 


192 


THE   FUIt   SEALS   OF   THE   PRIBILOP   ISLANDS. 


THE  WILD-ANIMAL  POLICY. 


This  policy,  which  systematically  treated  the  fur  seals  as  wild  animals,  bore  fruit 
later  on,  when  the  theory  of  exclusive  ownership  in  the  seals  became  vital  to  the 
interests  of  the  Government.  This  theory,  being  wholly  incompatible  with  its 
management  of  the  herd,  was  legally  untenable.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  had  the 
United  States  looked  after  its  herd  with  the  care  and  attention  that  a  cattleman  on 
the  plains  would  bestow  on  his  stocl;,  the  theory  that  ownership  in  the  fur-seal  herd 
must  be  shared  with  the  pelagic  sealer  would  not  have  been  established.  Had  the 
United  States  in  188G,  instead  of  seizing  sealing  vessels  under  a  shadowy  right  of 
jurisdiction  over  the  waters  of  Tiering  Sea,  branded  a  mark  of  ownership  upon  each 
female,  cleansed  the  rookeries  from  worm-breeding  sands,  and  then  seized  the  vessels 
that  destroyed  its  property,  it  is  probable  tlnit  to-day  there  would  be  no  fur-seal 
question. 

LACK  OF  FAITH   IN  OUR  OWN  METHODS. 

IJut  SO  little  attention  had  the  Government  paid  to  the  condition  of  its  herd  and 
the  results  of  its  own  methods  of  handling  the  animals,  that  it  was  possible  in  IHUl, 
for  those  interested  in  maintaining  pelagic  sealing,  to  set  up  the  counterclaim  that 
our  own  methods  were  responsible  for  the  depleted  condition  of  the  herd,  and  the 
Government  found  itself  unable  to  successfully  combat  the  charge.  Indeed,  it  would 
seem  that  it  was  not  itself  assured  of  its  own  innocence,  otherwise  the  useless 
repression  of  driving  in  1894  and  1895,  after  the  modus  vivendi,  is  without  explanation. 
In  tiiese  years,  after  three  years  of  rest,  the  full  product  of  the  hauling  grounds  should 
1  ave  been  raken.  Instead  of  this  we  lind  that  the  taking  of  seals  was  limited  to  two 
drives  I'lom  each  hauling'  gntund  in  the  season,  this  change  being  made  with  the 
avowed  purjiose  of  avoiding  injury  and  disturbance  to  the  rookeries. 

WASTEFUL  MANAGEMENT. 

We  must  again,  at  tiie  risk  of  repetition,  call  attention  to  the  financial  loss  which 
the  management  of  the  fur-seal  herd  in  the  tirst  twenty  years  of  our  control  involved. 
From  the  i)nblished  records  of  the  islands  we  find  that  no  less  than  154,000  animals, 
either  too  young  to  furnish  skins  or  whose  condition  was  such  that  the  skins  were 
not  availabk>,  were  killed  and  tlieir  i)elts  wasted.  Had  these  animals  been  killed  in 
the  i>roper  season  or  been  allowed  to  grow  to  the  proper  age,  the  revenue  in  tax  alone 
from  tliese  skins  would  have  been  $4(10,000. 

Why  this  waste  was  permitted  we  can  not  understand  uuless  it  be  that  the 
matter  was  never  properly  urged  upon  tlic  attention  of  the  Government.  It  scenes 
certain  to  us  tliat  had  the  agents  in  charge  of  tlie  islands  ascertained  the  uselessness 
and  wastefulness  of  this  proceeding  it  would  never  have  been  allowed  to  continue. 
This  money  would  have  paid  five  times  over  for  competent  and  systematic 
investigation  of  the  herd  from  the  day  it  came  into  con*^^rol  of  the  United  States  to 
the  present  time.  It  wiuild  in  all  likelihood  have  averted  itii  depletion  and  all  the 
expensive  litigation  aiul  friction  which  the  fur-seal  question  has  involved. 

THE   TWO   VITAL   MATTERS   YET  UNKNOWN. 

There  are  two  important  nnitters  which  the  Government  ought  to  understand  in 
order  to  haiulle  its  fur-seal  interests  intelligently,  and  these  two  vital  facts  it  has  not 


I/IESTIONS    RELATING    TO   THE    t^UOTA. 


193 


■ 


yet  ascertained.  They  Hhoiikl  have  received  lirst  attention,  aud  they  should  have  been 
detenniued  twenty  years  ago.  These  are:  First,  the  proportion  of  males  necessary  to 
attend  to  the  needs  of  the  breeding  female  herd;  8econ<I,  the  proportion  of  youug 
seals  which  survive  to  the  aye  of  3  years. 

Without  knowing  the  real  facts  in  regard  to  either  of  these  matters,  the  Govern- 
ment assumed  io  fix  a  definite  quota  and  to  maintain  it  through  twenty  years.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  we  know  from  the  history  of  the  herd  that  for  the  greater  i)art  of  this 
time  ibis  (juota  was  too  small  and  that  a  large  additional  product  of  male  life  was 
wasted.  For  another  part  of  the  time  this  quota  was  too  groat,  and  this  led  to  waste 
of  another  sort  by  involving  the  premature  killing  of  the  yearling  and  L'-yearold 
bachelors.  Since  1894  the  (Jovernment,  acting  on  the  advice  of  its  agents,  who 
clearly  did  not  understand  the  situation,  has  each  year  assumed  to  tix  in  advance 
what  ({uota  should  be  taken. 

THE    FIXING   OF   THE   QUOTA. 

Let  us  take  as  a  concrete  example  the  quota  of  18!>7,  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
number  was  left  indefinite  and  at  the  discretion  of  the  commission,  so  that  the  full 
product  of  the  hauling  grounds  was  taken  in  so  far  as  that  was  possible.  Hut  suppose 
the  quota  had  been  fixed  at  1.j,(»00,  In  that  case  the  loss  to  the  G(»vernment  in  tax 
under  its  lease  would  have  been  $(55,000;  or  had  it  been  fixed  at  l.'0,000,  the  loss 
would  still  have  been  A9,000.  Dne  or  the  other  of  these  figures  would  certainly  have 
been  chosen  had  the  advice  of  anyone  relying  on  such  data  as  were  availabli  in  1896 
been  taken.    The  quota  actually  taken  in  1897  was  20,890. 

SSo  long  as  mere  personal  judgment  is  trusted  in  these  matters  any  quota  that 
may  be  fixed  in  advance  nmst  be  a  very  conservative  one.  The  (rovernmcnt  must 
avoid,  on  the  tnie  hand,  the  too  close  killing  of  the  male  life.  On  the  other  hand, 
it  must  see  to  it,  at  least  in  the  present  depleted  condition  of  the  fur  seal  catch, 
whether  on  land  or  at  sea,  that  the  full  product  of  its  bachelor  herd  is  gathered  and 
utilized.  It  must  therefore  face  this  problem:  If  in  fixing  the  «iuota  tiie  figure  be 
placed  too  low,  say  1,000  below  the  number  of  skins  which  could  be  taken  with 
impunity,  the  (xoverninent  loses  $10,000  in  tax,  and  the  lessees  an  eciual,  if  not  greater, 
amount.  If  the  margin  of  uncertainty  is  greater  or  less,  tiie  loss  is  proi»ortionate!y 
increased  or  diminished.  It  would  niauiiestly  be  disastrous  were  tlie  limit  of  safety 
systematically  exceeded  by  a  like  number. 

QUESTIONS  WHICH  REQUIRE  CONTINUOUS  AND  EXPERT  STUDY. 

The  questions  involved  in  the  safe  and  intelligent  gathering  of  the  annual  quota 
are  of  such  a  nature  that  they  can  not  be  determined  in  a  single  season,  nor  in  two, 
possibly  not  definitely  in  tive;  nor  can  the  matter  rest  when  tiiey  are  once  determined. 
The  investigations  of  the  past  two  seasons  have,  however,  laid  tin;  foundation  for 
this  w(«'k.  If  the  census  of  the  breeding  herd,  begun  in  1896  and  improved  upon  in 
1897,  is  continued  for  two  or  three  seasons  it  can  l»e  made  practically  exact.  The 
birth  rate  of  the  present  season  is  a'.-curately  enough  established.  If,  as  can  safely  be 
done,  the  full  product  of  the  hauling  grounds  is  taken  from  now  until  the  season  of 
19(M),  it  can  then  be  determined  with  reasonable  accuracy,  from  the  (piota  of  .{-year  old 
mfties  of  that  year,  what  percentage  of  the  young  su  -vive  to  killable  and  breeding  age. 
15184 1;{ 


hi 


'^ff^mmmmmmmmBom 


194 


THK    FUlt   SEAI^S    OF   THE    PKIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


FIXED  QUOTA  NOT  DESIRABLE. 

Witli  tliis  tiict  «)iu'e  doteriniiied,  the  rate  of  the  herd's  increase  is  known,  and  also 
the  si/.e  of  the  (inota  that  can  safely  be  taken.  From  any  {<;iven  birtli  rate,  then,  tiie 
quota  of  the  third  year  following  can  be  very  detiiiitely  d<'termined.  It  will  probably 
never  be  wise  to  again  fix  a  hard  and  fast  quota,  but  a  niaxiniitni  and  minimum  limit 
within  close  range  can  be  fixed,  and  this  should  serve  the  purposes  of  the  lessees  as 
well  as  of  the  Government. 


?* 


1^  i;  ; 


I  f 


THE  PROPORTION  OF  MALES  NEEDJCD. 

The  second  i)roblem  of  importance,  namely,  the  propDrtion  of  males  needed  on 
the  rookeries,  is  perhaps  inoie  easily  determined.  It  will,  1;  )wever,  be  well  to  verify 
it  by  continued  observations  and  experiments.  Tiie  invest)  Rations  of  the  jiast  two 
seasons  show  clearly  that  with  the  present  breeding  herd  of  13(>,U(M>  cows  4,.">(K>  adult 
bulls  is  a  number  entirely  adequate,  even  though  twice  thai  number  are  ready  and 
willing  to  do  service.  Hut  the  mere  fact  that  the  rookeries  arc  so  evidently 
overstocked  with  bulls  makes  it  desirable  that  this  subje(!t  shouh.  be  further  studied 
before  final  judgment  is  taken. 

The  importance  of  the  second  problem,  however,  docs  not  lie  in  its  solution,  but  in 
its  practical  application.  Knowing  the  proportion  of  males  neces.saiy  for  breeding 
purposes  and  the  proportion  of  nialci  which  survive  fo  killable  age,  the  practical 
question  is,  how  to  see  that  the  nec'.!ssary  reserve  is  set  aside  ciich  year  to  replenish 
the  breeding  stock  as  it  deteriorates  through  old  age  and  other  causes. 

MINOR  PROBLEMS. 

We  have  mentioned  these  two  important  i>roblems  which  din^ctly  concern  the 
taking  of  the  product  of  the  herd.  They  ar<^  absolutely  essential.  There  are  other 
questions  of  a  minor  nature,  such  as  the  more  definite  detcrniiuation  of  the  movements 
of  the  seals,  aiul  their  ages.  There  is  also  an  important  work  to  be  done  in  the 
improvement  of  the  breeding  grounds,  their  extension,  their  drainage,  and  the  purging 
of  places  infested  with  the  parasitic  worm. 

TKE  HERD  SHOULD  BE  PLACED  IN  CHARGE  OF  A  NATURALIST. 

Jt  is  not  necessary  to  go  into  greater  detail.  We  have  probably  said  enough  to 
nndve  clear  the  wisdom  of  the  one  important  recommendation  which  the  present 
commission  strongly  urges  upon  the  (iovernment  at  this  time.  This  is  the  placing  of 
its  fur-seal  herd  permanently  in  charge  of  a  competent  naturalist  and  practical  man 
of  affairs,  whose  business  it  shall  be  to  visit  the  islands  each  year  in  the  breeding 
season  and  to  study  the  condition  of  the  herd  and  ways  for  its  improvement;  to 
determine  the  si/e  of  the  quota  which  shall  be  taken,  and  su])ervise  its  taking;  in 
short,  to  make  the  needs,  possibilities,  and  limitations  of  the  fur-seal  herd  his  life 
study.  Ity  such  a  course  the  Government  can  hope  to  have  at  hand  at  all  times  that 
expert  advice  and  assistance  that  have  been  so  signally  lacking  in  the  past  and 
which  are  so  essential  to  the  proper  administration  of  its  future  interests. 

This  superintendent  of  the  herd  should  not  take  the  ]ilac«^  of  the  present  agents, 
but  should  be  an  additional  officer,  and  his  duties  should  lie  wholly  with  the  herd. 
The  agents,  as  at  present  appointed,  should  continue  to  deal  with  the  natives  and 


A   SUPKIUNTKNDKNT   OF   THE    HKKD. 


l!)r) 


.,1 


t.^r*' 


nmjuiMiiH 


.  ?  I 


it 


APPENDIX   T. 


STATISTICS  PERTINENT  TO  THE  PRECEDING  DISCUSSION. 

TAHLK  OF  UAILY  KILLISaS  OF  FIR  SEALS  FOIt  ALL  Vntl'OSKS  nS  THE   VHllilLitF 
ISLANDS  FOR  THE  VKAltS  187r,,  ISSO,  tSSH,  AND  tSSf)  TO  lSri7,  LWLIsnF. 

INTRODUC'IORY  NOTE. 

The  complete  table  of  daily  killings  for  the  period  1870  to  1889,  prepared  by  Col. 
Joseph  Murray,  having  been  published  in  Senate  Doc.  No.  137,  Seal  Life,  Part  1,1891), 
and  recently  republished  in  "  Seal  and  Salmon  Fisheries  and  General  llesourcos  of 
Alaska,"  House  Doc.  No.  9U,  1898,  it  has  not  seemed  necessary  to  repeat  it  in  full  here. 
From  this  table  we  have  taken  the  record  for  the  years  187 "»,  1880,  188<»,  and  1889. 
The  first  of  these  years  is  intended  to  illustrate  the  normal  driving  in  the  period  of 
equilibrium  during  the  years  1871  to  1880.  The  record  of  the  year  1880  is  given  to 
show  that  no  radical  change  had  yet  occurred.  With  it  is  contrasted  the  record  of 
1886,  when,  the  killable  seals  became  scarce  through  the  decline  of  the  breeding  herd, 
and  it  was  necessary  to  multiply  the  drives  and  hauling  grounds  driven  from  to 
secure  the  necessary  quota  of  skins.  The  record  of  1889  is  introduced  to  form  a 
contrast  to  that  of  1890.  The  driving  in  neither  year  shows  normal  conditions.  The 
record  for  1890  and  following  is  a  continuation  of  Colonel  Murray's  set  of  tables, 
taken  from  the  otScial  records  of  the  islauds.  In  the  names  of  the  rookeries  wc  have 
used  the  spelling  adopted  in  the  present  reix>rt. 

MT.  PAITI.    IMIiAND,   IN7.1. 


T>Hta. 


l{iM>ker)'. 


1878 

. 

Jan. 

I'i 

Fell. 

10 

10 

17 

Miiy 

7 

10 

U 

18  1 

24 

31  1 

Nortlioast  Point . 

...do 

.....lo 

....<lo 

SoiilliWfKt  Bay  .. 
Northeast  Point . 

....do 

Kwf 

....do 

...do 


Total 

malcH 

Djile. 

killnd. 

1875. 

25 

.rmiu    1» 

6 

0 

1 

16 

5 

49K 

7 

tt 

7 

20 

7 

143 

10 

657 

492 

1 

12 

KiHikery. 


Total 
iiialeH 
killed. 


Knclinh  Hay  niid  Soiithwoat  j 

Kay I  1,201 

Tidstoi  '  203 

ZolKii  iind  Tulatoi 692 

Zultoiaiid  liwf 711 

SoHtliWHHt  Hay 1.560 

MortlieaHt  Point 27 

Kngliih     Hay,     .SoiilliweHt  < 

ttty,  Tolstoi 1,456 

Reef  and /oltoi 631 


'  SoaU  tnkf^n  in  tliix  nn<l  Hnl>n«<|iicnt  yeara  prior  to  .Iiine  1,  when  tlin  r«Kiilar  totaling  aeaaon  began,  with  fur  niitlTPs' 
food.     Snitli  ot'tlin  akiim  iig  vri\re  of  Hiiilabl'v  Krailo  wore accttptea  nnil  iHMunie  a  part  of  tliii  reiciilar  i|Uotii. 

■Wlii'ro,  as  ill  this  initial  drive  of  the  season,  two  or  mom  naini'S  are  joined,  it  means  that  adjacent  or  eonvniiient 
hauling  gronnds  wern  united  in  a  siugli'  drivr.  Thus  Zidtoi  is  always  driven  with  Heel',  Iwi^aiise  the  route  of  the  longer 
drive  crosses  /oltoi  hauling  ground.  In  like  manner  Tulatoi,  Middle  Hill,  and  Englisli  Hay  are  so  situated  an  ttt  liu 
convonioiitly  driven  together. 

197 


.T 


lMT 


198 


■rilE   FUR   SEALS  OF   THE   PKIBILUF   ISLANDS. 

MT.  PAVL.   lAI^AND,  lNya-Ci>ntiuiii-<l, 


Uatv. 


1875. 
.Ill  nil  13 
14 
IB 

1^ 
IH 

ly 
It) , 

22 
22 
24  I 
2.'>  1 
2(1  i 
211  . 
28 

:iii 


ItuoklT)'. 


.Iiilv 


u 

8 
U 
111 
10 
13 


l>nte. 


Nnriheniit  Point 4,0«5 

ToJNtoi  uiiil  KiiKlisli  Bay....  7311 

lliilt'wiiv  Point i  2,  IIS 

TolMtoi  and  Kwf 707 

Liikimiu I  452 

SoiilliwcMt  Bay,  KukUkIi  Kav  3, 303 

/oltol 1,36:1 

Nortlii-ast  Point 5,  2!>2 

ToIhIoI 1.830 

Zoltoi l.l.'.O 

KneliBli  Bay !  3,0U0 

I.ukaniii i  262 

Nort  licaat  Point 7, 349 

Siiiitlini'Ht  Hay 4,047 

Uecl 1,527 

/olloi  anti  KiikUhIi  lluv 3,  U27 

Liikanin,  Kitovi, /.oltol 2,5.14 

NortlicaHt  Point... 5,024 

/iiltolaud  Liikauin 1,248 

Unaliiili  Hay 3,370 

ToIhIiiI  anil'  Engliali  llav 2, 003 

LiikaniD  anil  Kitovi . . . .' 1 ,  125 

Nortlieiwt  Point 5, 937 

/.ollol 1,505 


Auk- 


Si'pt. 


(k't. 
Nov. 


Dec. 


21 
30 
12 
5 
17 
29 


1875. 
Jul.v     U 

15  I 

16  I 

16  ! 

17  1 
22' 


Kookery. 

Total 
iiialM 
killed, 

1.H10 
748 
2,700 
1,205 
7,439 
557 

Tolstoi  anil  Knglliili  liny. . . . 

Liikanin  anil  Kllovl 

KiigliHli  Bav 

Zoltoi 

Northeast  Point 

/.ultol  

do 

15U 

...  do 

235 

Kitovi 

192 

Zoltoi 

159 

...do  

210    . 

143 

146 

1,53 

lit 

172 
MHMI 

24    1 
3, 745 
15 

604 

...do 

..    do 

(III 

do 

do 

Ttilstol 

Southwest  Hay 

Pii))H  killeil  lor  fiiiMl"    

Nortlii'ast  Point    

TolHtoi 

Total 

94, 960 

MT.  44BOROB  IMI^AND,  tStS. 


1875. 
■Iiliin 


StnravnArtcl 302 

do 256 

KsBt 177 

Staraya  Artel  and  North 307 

Kast 358 

Staraya  Arti'l and  North....  334 

.S>iitliw«st  Hav 1, 294 

East 666 

Staraya  Arti'l  and  North ....  54U 

East 692 


1875 
<T  iini< 
.Inly 


30  !  Staravn  Artel  and  North....  1,412 

5     East 717 

7     Staraya  Artel  luid  North 1,019 

12     East 1,073 

14     North    676 

17  I do 177 

Killed  lor  food I,5ii0 

I           Total m,50(i 

I 

I  I 


I  The  killlnKB  HiihsKniient  to  July  17,  at  which  tiiiin  thi<  i|iii>ta  of  th«  Muaxon  was  tilled,  wen>  for  natives'  food,  and,  as 
in  the  rase  of  the  KiUingx  liefnro  the  regular  Heason  lii^pin,  the  skins  so  taken  when  xiiitable  were  invliided  In  the  ijiiota  of 
the  follow  iug  year. 

'  Prior  to  the  year  1891  it  was  customary  each  tall  lo  allow  the  killing  of  n  certain  niiiiiher  of  young  male  |iii|»i  hv 
the  natives  for  food.  Hefore  leaving  the  islands  in  the  fall  the  pups  become  very  fat,  and  as  their  diet  is  excliiNivel.v  milk 
up  to  that  time,  the  meat  was  dearly  prized  by  the  natives.  The  methiMl  employed  in  takinii  tlieni'  pups  wiih  to  drive  (hem 
up  from  II  given  rookery,  sorl  out  the  males  and  drive  them  to  the  killing  grounds  fur  Hhiughter.  Their  nkins  were  of  no 
value.  The  wasteful  iiiai'tice  was  discontinued  aft4>r  1800.  Kor  details  regarding  tills  matter,  refereuue  maybe  made  to 
extracts  from  the  bic  of  .St.  Paul,  Part  II,  under  date  of  November  in  any  season. 

'St.  George  bad  fiirnisbed  27.0110  male  seals  up  to  the  close  of  1873.  when  the  iiiiota  was  arbitrarily  reiluced  to  10,000. 
The  driving  of  this  year  w  as  adapted  to  the  reduced  iiuota.  lu  1887  the  i^uuta  uf  St.  Ueorge  was  raised  to  15,000,  and  tlie 
driving  increaaed  uouordiugly. 


*  'I 


DAILY    KILLINGS. 


MT.  F.tl'l.  IMI.AND,   INtiO. 


n 


DhId. 


liiHikery. 


Hill,  anil,  BR 
(|iiotn  iif 

fli-  imiinbv 

|»i\l'l,V  IIIIIK 

iliivii  ilu'in 
wero  of  uo 
|lie  iiiiule  ti> 

to  10,(100. 
0,  ami  tim 


18K0 

Uav 

141 

O-l 

22 

liiiii' 

1 

H 

U 

11 

12 

.liih 


1(1 
17 
IH 

'II 

Hi 
191 
21 

2ii 
24 


2(1 

2U 

2(iJ 

2H 

20 

:iii 
1 


1880. 

Miiv    18 

'     211 

tl  II  nil    3 

9 

12 

14 

IS 

17 

17 

19 

19 

21 


July 


SoiilliwcHi  nny 

ItlM.I 

Nitrllii'iiiit  rttliit 

Ki'dl 

Siiiitliwi'Ht  llav 

Ki'i.) 

Kiiullxli  llu\.  Tolxtoi 

SuntliwrHt      anil      KiiuHmIi 
HiiVM 

i!ii)i''\\ii\  roiiit 

Ki'i'l'iinil  /iillui 

/a|Miilnhinil  Kiiullxii  llav   .. 

Kitiivi.  /ollni.  liicl' 

TiilHlni  iinil  KiikIUIi  Hiiv.  . . 
KimllHli    liny    anil    MIiIiIIk 
llill 

Ni>itlira«t  I'lilnt 

Ilallwiiv  I'liiiil 

Kiti.vi.'Zi.lliii,  Ui'.r 

Tiil.'<l«liinil  Miilillii  Hill 

Uci'l'.  /iihiii.  Kiln\i 

KnuliHli    Hay    and    .Mlilillu 

llill 

Kiiiixi,  y.oltiil,  Keol' 


I'lilal 
inali'H 
killi'il. 


2(19 
225 
lU 
21(1 
1,497 
92(1 
880 


Date. 


1880. 
.Inly      5 
ff 


NiirtticiiMl  riiliil 

Ilall'wiiv  I'liint 

Kilovi.'l.iikaiihi.  /oltiii  ... 
TiiIhIiiI  anil  Mlilillr  llill   ... 

...ill. 

KiiuMhIi    liav    anil    .Miililli' 

llill 

Kil.ivl.  Z.iliiii,  lici'f 

NnrtliiMiHl.  I  Nil  III. 

Iliillwav  roiiil 


7(i:i 

1 

>-IO 

1,204 

12 

7fi.'« 

III 

UtHI 

14 

18 

l.dlH 

15 
111 

HirJ 

17 

.-I.  279 

28 

:io 

1.459 

III 

1,035 

.ViiK. 

11 

1,7112 

10 

I.i:i7 

28 

,S«|.t. 

8 

2.  .■.H2 

18 

1,0(12  1 

:io 

«,  2112 

()■'( 

12 

25 

1.516 

Niiv. 

2| 

i.74;i 

:i 

.".,fil 

2.  2117 

Her. 

11 

1.022 

9 
21 

2, 1174 

Ni.v. 

11 

1.  ;w« 

29 

7,  1(17 

789 

KlKll.l' 


Lnknnln  anil  Kitovl 

TiilHlni 

rul^tiiiianil  l.iikaiiln 

/.iiltiii,  Ui'i'l',  I.nkaniii,  Ki 

tiivi 

Tolnliii,    l.iikanin.    .Miilillu 

Mill 

/(iltol,  Klliivi.  I.iikiuiiii 

Niirllii'iKt  I'liinl 

/oltiii.  Kilnvi,  liiikaniii  ... 
TiiIhIiiI  anil  Knulinli  lliiv  . 
lii'i'l',  /iilldi.  l.iikauin.KI. 

(n\  i 

KnuliHli  llav 

Mnlillii  llill  anil  I.ukanlii. 

/.oltoi 

Niirtlii'iiNt  rniul 

Hallway  I'ninl 

Zollol 

ilo 

ill. 

...  ilo 

ilo 

do 

do 

I.iikanid 

Kii^iMmIi  Hay 

l.iikanin,  lli'i'T,  Kituvi 

lU'ff 

Siintliwi'iit  Hay 

N'mlliisiMt  roiiit 

Middle  Hill 

Knt;li.-'li  Hay 


'I'lilal  . 


Tl1«4ll 

maba 
killwl. 


(Ml 
1.  77 
1.054 

2,'.'21 

1.  I'JH 
1,221 
T.  07:1 

817 
l,7fl:t 

2,  (UO 
1,8:14 
2.  401 

,'1:14 
4'l 
228 
218 
25:1 
KiO 
180 
10.-I 
2:10 
•227 
200 
103 

4.410 

I,  1711 

|:> 
82 
270 
270 

84,  779 


MV.  taKOKfJK  IRIjAIVU.  IN«H>. 


Norlli I  14 

Starnya  A  rtel I  ZS 

Niirtli 82 

East 3:18 

Niirt  li  mill  Ktarava  A  rtel  —  564 

KasI „ 382 

Soiilliwe.st  Ilay '' 738 

do '2.')4 

Norlli  and  Staiava  A rti'l. . ..  5,*i9 

Ea»t :>W 

SontliweHt  Hay '2'23 

North  and  Sta'rava  Artel 1. 183 

SontliweHt  Hav  ■ 518 

Kant ; 814 

SoiitliW(!.t  Hay 839 

North  ami  Staravu  Artel 1, 322 

Kast 1,770 

Southwest  ISiiy 840 

Staraya  Art  el'. 808 

North ,192 

Kaat 9.16 

Simthweiit  Hay 961 

Ninth  and  Staravu  Artel 515 


1880. 
I  .liilv      0 


Aiif. 
So|it. 

Oit. 
Nci\ . 

Hit. 


i!)n 


Kast 

1,483 

1,814 

049 

':" 

7 
8 

(W 

51 

220 

411 

47 
(12 
M\ 
705 
30 
III 
115 
111 

DiirliiK  Hcasuu 
North 

!» 

■riHhiM 

1  I 

II 

1  Ndrtli 

<l(i 

North.. 

... 

•• 

•• 

'  North 

do 

do 

<lii  

/upiiihii 

Kant 

1  Zapniliii 

.- 

■  ■  t 

/a 

nie 

lai 

11 

j             Tntal.... 

20,  930 

in  latiT 
isHlali  am 

Itav.  iM  iiliMitii'ul 

with 

IU>  III 

viarn.     In 

4.     In  <':ii-h  t-Hsv  i 

IH 

1: 

III,  other 

like  manner  llalluav  I'oinI  and  the  later  name  Tolovina  an-  h\  niinymoiiH 
tlie  Kn);llHli  ei|nivah'iit. 

■'.SontliweHt  Hay  and  /anailni  are  the  sanie  rookery. 

'I  A  leoord  was  Kept  of  tlie  animalH  whieh  were  overrimie  b>  exIiaiiHlion,  or  aceiileiil,  and  had  to  he  killeil  and  Hkitineil 
on  thu  drivu.  Fur  thin  geasoii,  involviuu  tku  liaudUu);  uf  20,000  sealH  kiHpd,  to  nay  uothiUK  of  thone  driven  and  rejeeted, 
the  number  lost  Heema  to  have  been  28, 


>: 


,1^ 


I  I 

I 


lit 


■I  r 


TT' 


200 


THE    PUR   8BAI-S    OK   THK    PRIBILOK    ISLANDS. 


MT.   PAI'l.    IMI.ANU,    INN«. 


KiMiki>ry. 


Sni  I.lnii  (SIviiti'li)  UiM'k  <  . 

Smith" cMt  llav    

Nurthi'UBt  I'ul'iit 

...  ilo 

SiiiitlincHt  lliiv  unil  Kci'l'. . . 

Nnrtlll'HHi  I'oiiit 

Ki'bC 

...lid 

TcilHtcii,  Kiiuliali  IIh.v.SuiiiIi. 

«ii«t  ll»v 

lIllllWUV  I'lllllt 

Ui'if  mill  /oltiii 

Kiitilisli  Iliiy    

I.iikiiiiiii,  Uicl' 

NllltllfllHt  I'lllllt 

Siinlli\vi>Ht  Hiiy 

NiM-tlirant  Point 

KiiuHhIi  lliiY,  Miilillo  Hill, 
•iNilHloi  ..'. 

Noltlu'HHt  I'llillt 

IliillHiiy  I'liiul 

Niii'tlii'iint  I'lllllt 

lifi't'  mill  /iiltol 

Niirtlirast  I'lllllt 

KiikIIhIi  lliiv,  Miilillii  mil, 

Tolntol  .  ■ 

NortliiMiHt  I'oiiit 

Soiitliuent  Hay 

Norllirimt  I'lllllt 

KiikIihIi  lIllVllllll  'I'ulHtol 

NorlhciiHt  ('iiint 

Hallway  I'liiiit 

NiirllioiiHt  I'liint 

Zoll.il  

Xortlii'iiHt  roint 

Ui'ef,  /iiltol,  EiiuMhIi  Hay, 

MilllllDlIill.  TlllHtol 

NortheaHt  Point 

....  do 

Sunt  li wi'Mt  Hay 

Niirtliriist  Point 

EuuIIhIi  Hhv.  ToUtnl,  /iiltni. 

XortluiaMt  I'oint 

llallVay  Point 

Nnrtlii'i'iHt  Point 

KngllHli  Hnv  and  TolHtnl 

NurtlicnHt  I'oiut 

Soiithwi'Ht  Hay    

NortlidiHt  Point 

Itwf  nnil  Zoltiil 

KokIIhIi  IIiiv  anil  Tolntoi 

NortheaHt  i'oint 

Halfway  Point 

Norl  lici'iHt  Point 

/<ilt<ii,  I!«er.  Liikanlu 

Nnrtheaxt  I'oint 

Soiithwi'Bt  Hay 

Northunat  Point 


I'otitl 
malra 
klllwl. 


K4    I 

4l[  I 

7 

5  'i 

900   I 

41) 

I, VI 

5A'J   . 

1,32.1 

21MI 

IM4 

214 

427 
1,343 
1,166 
1,116 

ato 

5«,'i 
(<33 
7fll 
O.'il 
376 

1,064 

371 
l.HOI 
l.lfll 
1,007 

A&t 
1,770 

95.^ 

1.55S 
408 

■J.  158 

581 

441 
1,070 

»2H 
1.S03 

704 

49U 
l.O.'.O 
1,310 
1.202 

850 

rm 

1,263 
1.163  ' 
1.180 
042 
866 
1,969 
1,187 
1,466 


Data. 


.riilx      n 


9 

III 


12 
13 

u 

14 
16 

I.'. 
Ill 
16 
17 

17 
19 
10 
20 

'JO 
21 
21 
22 


Iti^t. 
Nov. 


Deo. 


23 


Aii«.      3 
9 

in 

30 
Sept.       6 


10 

22 

1 

21 


ItlMlklM'V. 


Kiiullali  ItoT.  Mlilill*    HIM, 

liilatol 

Niiitlirant  Point 

Ui'i't',  /iiltol,  KItovi,  Liika-  I 

Hill ' 

Halfway  Point 

.N'liit liiHiil  Point 

Noiithwi.»t  Hay  anil  Hoiitli-  | 

wi'Ht  Point 

KntfllHli    Hav    unil    Miitillo  I 

Hill ' 

NiirthnaHt  Point 

/.Iiltol,  Ki'ol,  KItovl,  Liika-  I 

iiin 

NortlidiiHt  Point 

Hultway  Point 

.Nortlii'iinl  Point 

SoiithwPHt  Hay  anil  Hoiith-  | 

wi-at  Point  . .' 

Noitlieawt  Point 

Href  anil  /oltoi 

Nortliciwt  Point 

Kiitfllah  Jlav,  Miiltllu   Hill,  I 

TolHtoi  

Northi'HHt  Point i 

Halfway  I'oint | 

NortlieiMt  Point 

SoiithwcHt  Hay  anil  8outh- 

wi'Ht  Point.. 

Nortlii'iiNt  Point 

Kci-f,  /oltol,  l.ukanin,  KI- 
tovl  

Norl  hiMiHt  Point 

KiieIUIi    Hay   and    Miildlu 

Hill 

NnrtheiiHt  I'oint 

Halfway  Point,  SoiitliwiMt 

Hav.  Liikanln,and  Ziiltol . 

Zoltdi 

do 

do 

do ■ 

do 

do 

lifif 

do 

di) 

do 

Kerf  and  Liikaniii 

Keef 

do 

....do 

Tolatol 

Itoot 

Tolstoi 


Total 
iimlm 
klllml. 


inn 

1,133 
1.044 

L.'iOl 

1,442 

1,074 
tHI2 

1,0,17 
1*09 
93V 

1,013 

2, 057 
407 

2,  312 
753 

3, 140 
801 

1,476 
312 

2.015 
923 

3.147 


1.  fl2.-. 
058 

1,993 
76 
l,'i2 
134 
96 
148 
148 
148 
144 
152 
768 
445 
900 
711 
379 
289 
380 
191 


Total 88,085 


'The  killings  on  SIviiti'li  Ria'k  m^ciirnnlv  at  Intervals  In  thn  winter  or  oarly  aprini^  when  no  aeals  are  Icf  t  on  St.  Paul. 
The  nntlvKH  go  to  the  Island  In  lioiitn.  killing  the  seala  and  lirlnging  the  I'arrasseH  homo  tor  l'oo<l.  Noxeals  nrb  killid  on  the 
I'oi'k  in  thit  lireeding  Hi-aHoii. 

'The  rehitivo  niiinbi'v  of  driven  liotweon  ,Tiine  4  and  •Tiilv  20  in  thia  year  aliould  lie  niit«'d  in  contraHt  to  tlio  niinilii'r 
rei|iilrcd  in  18H0  between  -fune  1  and  July  17.    The  exteuaion  ol'  tlin  aenson'of  driving  ton  days  Ih  aUo  slgultli'iuil. 


t   It 

■   « 

411 


DAILY    KILMN08. 


201 


ItalK. 


Mh.v  I" 
2H 
•liiliv  8 
14 
III 
14 
17 
'J  I 
22 
211 
24 
'.'H 
20 
1 
S 
(I 
7 
III 
12 


NT.  «4KOR<4K     IMI.AIMU,  INM4t. 

Umikory.  niHlea  Date.     |  lt<iol(er\. 


.Iiilv 


KlIHt 

Norlh 

('ii|iliiri'(l  nkliiH    

/a|>iiiliil  I'lHiil  HkiiiH 

SturaMi  Ariel,  Nortli.  Kail.. 

/H|iuilni 

SI   rnNtt  Ariel,  Niirtli,  KhmI  .. 

/.U|lll<llli 

Sliira.vu  Arli'Iniiil  Nortli 

KhhI 

/iipuiliii 

...  .(Id 

Hliiruvii  Vrti'liiiKl  Nurtli 

Kant .' 

/ii|iailiii 

Stiinivii  Ariel  anil  North.... 

Kaxl  ; 

Stara.vii  Artel  and  Nnrtli.... 
/a|>acliii 


St.  raiil. 
Illeil  on  the 

he  miiulier 


May  22 
25 
2M 
:il 

June  S' 
III 
12 
14 
15 
17 
17 
IH 

18 
IB 

ig 

211 
21 
22 

24 
24 


.Inlv 


Total 

niHlea 

Date. 

kllliil. 

iMxe. 

:iii 

.Inly     14 

1112 

15 

4 

11) 

81 

21 

l,«M 

22 

77U 

2:1 

i,4:m 

A 111:.      2 

8411 

•2 

742 

U 

IMU 

17 

mm 

■.':i 

2HH 

Se|it        II 

«;i2 

(let.       211 

482 

•JM 

021) 

Nov,      8 

."■lu;! 

1:1 

dSU 

887 

745 

KhhI 

Staruyn  Artel  and  Niirlli 

/apaclnl 

Staravu  Artel  anil  North 

KaNt  ■ 

Kant  uiiil  North. 
Near(North). 
<l<i. 

KlIHl   . 

Nortli 
Kant . 
North 

<lo. 
Kast 

North 

Kaat 

Periaheil  on  drive. 


Total 
loalex 
killeil. 


712 
IHIU 
H.'i^ 
.'i27 
295 
14 
II 

m 

42 
70 
70 

7511 
24 

527 

12 


MT.  PAVIi   laiiAWn,   IMN9. 


Sea  I.ion'Slviiteh)  Itock 

Ueef 

...  ilo 

Northeant  I'olnt 

Kwf 

...  (1 

ToImIoI 

Zoltoi  and  Ueef 

South  went  hay 

Halfway  I'olnt 

NortheaHl  I'oint 

EnKllHh  Hay,  Tolatol,  Mid- 
dle Hill 

NortheHHt  I'olnt 

...do 

Keef,  /oltoi,  I.ukanin 

Si.ntliweMt  Hay 

\orthea«t  Point 

Knulinh  Hav,  ToIhIoI,  MM- 
dle  Hill..' 

Northeast  Point 

Keet'and  Zoltoi 

Hallway  I'ointandLiikanin 

NortheaHt  Point 

KnKliRhHayandMhIdlnHill 

NortheaHt  I'oint 

Sonthwent  Hay 

NortheaHt  Point 

Keef,  Zoltoi,  Klt«yi 

Norl  hi'ant  I'oint 

do 

Knglinh  Hay  and  ToIhIoI... 

NortheaHt  f'oint 

Keef.  /iilloi,  Lukanin 

Halfway  I'olnt 

NortheaHt  Point 

Enulinh  Hav,  ToIhIoI.  Mid- 
dle Hill..". 

Keef.  Zolt<ii,  Lnknnin 

Nort  heast  Point 

SoiilhweHt  Hay 

NortheaHt  I'olnt 

KngllHh  Hav,  Toli-toi.  Mhl- 
die  Hill..". 

NortheaHt  Point 

lieif.  /ollni,  Lukanin 

NortheaHt  Point 

Kngliah  Hay  and  Tolatol... 

NortheaHt  Point 

Halfway  Point 

NortheaHt  Point 

Keef  and  Zoltoi 


124 
41 
2:14 
1:1.1 
2U1 
12U 
!I47 
782 
340 
MIS 
1.0,-.4 


1889. 
July 


1.181  , 
1,270  I 

404 
1,.'>«I 

25:1 
1,205 

I,:i55 

754  i 

2,57H 

1178 

1,407 

1,314 

441 

311 

844 

l.:i40 

470 

335 

1,038 

1,200 

1,023 

8.14 

088 

1,841 
1,706 
1.  -isa 
I  2,')5 
l..')24 

1,3112 
376 
814 
914 

1,314 
641 
654 
80O 

2,004 


Aug. 


31 

Seiit.      9 

18 

25 

5 


(let. 


Nov. 


Iter. 


4 

18 
21 
27 
27 
30 
II 


Soulhweat  Hay 

NortheaHt  Point 

KiiullHhilayundMidilielh.l 

Nortlieaat  Point 

Ueef,  Zoltoi,  Lukanin 

NortheaHt  Point 

Hallway  I'oint  and  I, nkaiiiii 

Nort  hei'iHt  Point 

Lauoou.  Knulish  iiav,  .Mid- 

iiieiiiii ; 

Nort  heant  I'oint 

SoiithweHt  Hay 

NortheaHt  Point 

Keef  and  Zoltoi 

NortheaHt  Point 

KngllHh  Hay,  Mhlille  Hill, 

I.ukanin 

NortheaHt  Point 

Keef  Zoltoi,  Kitovi 

Northeaat  Point 

Halfway  Point 

NortheaHt  Point 

KngllHh  UavainlMiddlellill. 

NortheaHt  Point 

frioutliw ent  Hay 

Nort  heaat  Point 

/oltoi  and  Lukanin 

KngllHh Hnyaud  MiddleHill. 

NortheaHt  Point 

Halfway  Point 

SSoutliwcHt  Bay 

NortheaHt  Point 

Zoltoi 

Lukanin 

Zcdtoi 

..do 

ToIhIoI 

Zoltoi 

do 

....do 

...do 

do 

Lukanin 

Zoltoi 

TolHloi 

Keef 

do 

Zapadni 

Keef 

/apadni 


Total 16,436 


1,0ll6 
793 
3, 1186 
1,838 
1,011 
I.  \M 
1,031 
048 

2,046 
1.282 
2,017 

H34 
1,013 

243 


1.043 

3.''>0 

1,122 

740 

1.384 

610 

1.756 

1 

680 

1,483 

1,105 

1,643 

1.624 

97:1 

015 

.•i:)8 

IliU 
163 
131 
141 
179 
141 
Mil 
I117 
I2U 
103 
132 
1,160 
1,460 
347 
192 
111 
24U 
24:1 


I'otal 87,304 


'  The  driving  lu  thin  Heaaon  wiih  not  eHHentially  dilferent  from  that  in  1886,  except  that  it  wan  eontiniied  until  the  3lHt 
of  July.  That  what  was  dittienlt  in  1886  had  not  lieeonie  an  impoHHlliility  in  1880  waH  owing  to  I  he  fait  that  in  the  latter 
year  tlie  Hi/.e  of  nklnn  to  ho  taken  wan  lowered,  ho  that  the  y<Minger  bachehifH  down  to  the  yearlinga  were  taken,  Kveu  thU 
resoui'i'v  failed  In  189U. 


'r 


202 


THE    VVU    SEALS    OF   THE    PRIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


>il 


fl !  II 


«*t    I 

*r 


MT.  44BOKOK 

■  MI.A.'VII 

.    INMtt. 

Unti 

J. 

4 
10 
17 

l.-( 
■-'1 

•ft 

24 
25 

27 
2!l 

1 

tt 
H 
111 
12 

i:i 
1.^ 
Hi 

18 
Ml 

21 

28 
11 
11 
i;i 
111 
17 
17 
18 
18 
20 

5? 

21 

23 
23 
24 
24 
2', 
2.-. 
211 
27 
27 
28 
28 

:iu 

:iii 

t 

2 
3 
3 
4 

4 

6 

r 

7 

7 
H 

Uooknry. 

Tolal 
niali-H 
killi'il. 

1 
60 

i.'.n 

207 
244 
773 
176 
284 
."lOO 
4116 
223 
42!l 
187 
27.-. 
418 
22!l 
27U 
1U2 
667 
.171 

1,021' 
4',ll 

l.l40 

nil 

110 
116 

374 
182 
317 

16 
1117 
274 

78 
3311 
438 
202 

(HI 
521 
170 
426 

2iir.  1 

288  1 

186 

117 
3116 
2311 
2IMI 
70 

2U« 
08 
246 
131 
242 
!I6 
183 
180 

404 

321 

!(38 

74 

411 
336 
281 
379 

llato. 

Rookery. 

/.apailni 

N'nrib.  KaMl.Staraya  Arti'l 

Total 
inali'H 
kilM. 

18HI 
Miiv 

1880. 
.Inlv     22 

2:1 
24 
2,'. 
27 
28 
2!l 

Auk.     10 
hi 
M 

Si.pl.      7 
21 
30 

till.       11 
21 

N- . .      6 
12 
25 

500 

ilin'ii 

i:a.sl 

628 
279 

...    llo 

Sliii-uva  Ariel,  North.  Kant. 
KaHl. 

North.  KaMl,Staniya  Arti'l. 

1,430 
042 

568 

,>5 

,16 

48 

84 

SO 

33 

37 

32 

4 

606 

477 

61 

Nni'tli  ami  Staravn  Artvl 

.North.  Kaal.Starayn  Artfl.. 

llo                      ... 

IJlKt 

.Inlv 

.Siuniva  .\rli'l  iiiiil  Kiwi 

Niirlli,  K'-'.  ^iiiiraya  ArU'l. . 
/'.pail  III 

Niirlh 

ill)     

s»";,iva  Arlvl  . . 

,*.i  1 '  h.  Ka.st,  Stura.va  .iVrtel. . 
/apailni 

North 

,       .,lo 

Niirlli.  Ka^i.  Staraja  i^.rtwl.. 
/.apailni 

llo 

starava  Arttot 

Viirlli.  KaHl.Staniyu  .\ri«l 

Total 

mm*. 

|-    .„,r, 

.Ni.rlli.  i-Jisl.Stui-aya  Artel.. 

.Sta  Lion  (.Sivntrh)  Hock 

llo 



I8WI 
.Inn. 
•Miiy 

I8W 
.Inly 

A  lilt. 
Stpt. 
Oct. 
Nov. 

Dpi- 

. 
U 
9 
lU 
10 
12 

13 
13 
14 
15 

15 
16 

17 
17 
18 
18 
10 
10 
'20 

21) 
28 

14 

S.i 

:io 
11 

13 
22 
29 

4 
14 
22 
20 

4 

8 
10 
12 
14 

4 

MMitliwi'm  Hay 

NorlhfaKt  Point 

i{«i.r 

li>:i 
271 

«l  mil 

Uvet 1 

llo 

Nitrthi^aHt  Point 

11" 

.liilv 

Kuulish   liay.  Mlilillr  Hill. 

I'lilHloi.  I.ukaniii.  ivitovi. 

lluttwiiv  Point 

Tulsloi  

Iij3 

|[(.,.f          

•'11 

Niirthi'i'mM'oint 

Itn-I 

6.18 

III4 

Tolstolaiiil  Miilillollill  .... 
Ni>rtlu')ist.  Point             

Kutflinli    Hay.  Mhldli<  nni, 
lolnliii.  I.okunin.  KItin  1 

Northi'llHt  Point 

■         .1 

Poiovina,  l.ukiiulu,  Kltovi    . 

315 

215 

312 

372 

485 

KnuliHli  lliiv  ami  Liiknnin.. 

llo 

405 

2:111 

]{i*rt'mMl  Ziilidi 

ItRPtanil  /.oltaii 

5,16 

44*1 

IlHlt'wav  iNiiiil 

KuIImIi    ISav.  MiilillK  Hill 
'LlllHtol.      tvi>  ivi,      KiH^kv 
1  . lint " 

Nnrthram,  Point -- . 

I.ukaniu 

Itwl 

South w»'Mt.  Ha  \     

7811 

Kimlixhltav ami  MMillr  Hill. 

5.1(1 
1211 

Kt't>l' 

123 
124 

ToUloi.  .Miilillo   Hill.  Kiiu. 
Ii.<li  13i)\    Kilovi. 

H«t 

ih)    . 

1.15 
III! 

Noiihi.aiil.  I'liiiit 

Kirf 

Nortlii'aMi  Point * . 

IIalfwa>  I'liiiit   

I.Mhahiii 

83 

ih> 

Miihiioiiiu!rrr! .'"'."!. ""'.'. 

!I3 
lUI 
|0<l 

l.nkanin 

MiiliU..  Ilill._. 

11)9 

SiHltliweiil  Itay 

114 

llo 

O.'i 

'l'i>l..<loi.  Kniilinli  Hay,  MM. 

ill.'IIill .. 

Norllii'iiMti  I'oiiil 

llo 

134 
515 

Kwt _ 

do 

llo 

Mhlilli'HIll 

1180 

lii.(  1 .. 

.136 

Norllii'iiHl  Point 

324 

KiiuIhIi   llav.  MiilillP   illll. 
TolHioi,  l.iikaniii,  Kitovi.. 
NnrlliiMiHt  Point 

255 

Keel 

ToUl 

283 
21.92U 

NiirtlieaMi  Poiiil    

I 


n 
I* 


>Tho  rnntniHt  litTr  vi^ililc  Ut^t  uttrii  Ikhm  umiI  IHtht  is  hy  no  ini'iiii.i  ti  tnt^aHiiro  of  rorrcHiHtiKlin^  ilci  rcaHt-  in  tin'  Itrt'cilini; 
ht*rt\.  Tlx'  t'lo  I  irt  (hat  tho  tlrtiiioiiH  i|iiota  oi  IMHU  whm  until*'  itp  larudv  ol  viMirlJiii;^-  u  iiji'li  hi*liMiut>il  |ir(i|ierly  to  tlin  i junta 
nf  IHIH.  In  \\k^  nni liner  I)m«  i|niitii  of  iHHtt  mttl  tlii>  |>rti-i-ihnu  veHr  hail  laru*-iy  ahMorhi'il  rhi'  Ic'^itlinati^  quota  of  ]HW)  It  if* 
(irohnhli*  (hat  had  (hi'  ((nntjt  l»pi<n  n'lliit'i'd  in  |im|iort<toii  to  iho  (iBcrtuuiinK  hiitli  rati*,  and  Ihmmi  ooiiHui'il  to  the  regiilur  mi,*»» 
<d  aiiJMiaU,  till'  normal  <)iio(a  ol  IHHO  and  IKim  would  tmvo  Ihtii  htitwm-n  5(>.<HKI  ar'd  fiil.titHi, 

"In  thU  \i*ar  driviii);  lor  tJm  ^ftaHon  wan  rlotuirioii  .Inly  t!ti  l>y  nnlrr  of  Ihi-  linvi'rninont  atccnt,  It  l>fling  i-vhliMit  Ihnt 
the  lull  (|tiotn  'if  (lO.uuo  riUiua  loiihl  nut  bu  Hcciu'ud,  urou luct  jiuv  uouttidt'rahlL'  immhir  m  ailiUtioii  to  thoai'  tukuti  pnor  to 
that  date. 


m 


DAILY    KII.LIN»i8. 


203 


MT.  <.)KOH«>li   IMI.A^VU,   I0>1M». 


I 


iliiti» 


!!9le. 


1890. 
Mftv   Vl 
23 

•", 

lli 
18 
19 
'.MP 
^3 
■J5 
28 
;io 

I 
:i 
5 
7 
H 
M 
II 
12 

u 


.Inly 


li<K>k»T\. 


Totnl 
iiialert 
killi'd. 


I 


Xortli ' 

(Ill 

/upiiiiiii 

Noilli  

KlIHl ' 

North  ] 

KiiHt  ami  I  jtllo  KaHl   ' 

/i>|iuilnl ' 

8tuni\;i  Arti'liiihl  Xnrtli  ...' 

KiiBtiiiril  l.ittlu  KiiNt I 

Sluriiyii  Artel  mill  Xnrtli  ...' 

/a)»i(liii  

Kuxt  mill  l.itllii  KiiMl i 

Stnrn,\'ii  Ar-tol  tiiiil  North  ...I 

KiiHt  iiiiil  LittliiKiHt I 

/apailni  j 

KaHtiinil  l.iltlH  KhmI 

Sturiiva  Artel  anil  North  ...\ 

KlIHl ' 

Starava  Arli*l  aiitl  North  ... 
/ttpuiliii 


Date. 


18(10. 


32 

.Iiilv 

ir. 

37 

Ill 

IIW 

IH 

71 

■-'11 

•J18 

'-0 

UK 

Ant'. 

1 

IHI 

l:i 

:iii4 

14 

IM 

■-'1 

1H4 

:!0 

IX'.I 

Si-I.l. 

It 

\M 

24 

IM 

(III. 

HI 

•SM 

22 

.'i7 

311 

98 

Nov. 

.", 

24 

7 

lii:i 

Kit. 

1 

mi 

4 

1U3 

r>3 

Uooki-rv. 


ilo... 

do  ... 

.III... 

ilii  ... 

ilo... 

ill.    .. 

ilo... 

ilo  ... 

ilo  .. 

/.apailni  . 
ilo  . . 


Totnl 

nialr.s 
kllleil. 


Kaat 

.stHrayii  Ariel  anil  North  . 

Kaal  '. 

Staraya  Arlil  an  I  North  . 

/aiiailni 

.North  

ilo 

ilii 


132 
\\:> 
71 
041 
-.27 
«7 
.'i2 
42 
.Vi 
03 
18 
38 
32 
42 
TiU 
.■i7U 

7U 
147 


Xotitl . 


0, 139 


MT.  PAI'l.  IMI^A.'VU,  IM«I.< 


1891. 
Mav    l.-| 
211 
•I  iin 


.Inlv 


1W1. 
Mhv 


Jiilv 


I 


K.'il 

....  ih>  

/apailni 

/apailni  ami  IIih'I'. 

NorlhiMiHt  I'oinc  .. 

/apailni 

Northeast  Point .. 

Miihllo  Hill 

NorthcaHt  I'oint .. 

HiM-r 

Sonthwi'Ht  Hhv  .. . 

liii-r 

.Miihllo  Hill 

Iteel 

....  ihi  

.Ill 

ao 


233 
114 
41)3 
718 

1,112 
428 
4311 
232 
800 
842 
I8H 

1,027 
119 
21.1 
40(1 
IMI 
121 


1801. 
July     1 

Aiii;. 

I 
Nov. 


Ii.i 


i.iikanjn 

21      .Miililh'  Hill 

27      .       ilo 

3      li.ef 

.'>  Northeant  I'oint 

III     l.iikanin 

2      .Miilillr  Hill 

ii     /olloi 

U     .Miihlln  Hill 

I'.l     ilo      

I  NnrtliiaNl  I'oint 

24  Miihl 

J.'i  Heel' 

211    il 


Ml'.   tJKOHtJK    ■MI.A.\I»,    IMWI. 


North  

F.HHt 

Norlh  

North,  Kant.  SlnravH  Artel.. 

/apailni  .     

Siarava  .\rtil  

/apa<)nl 

Ka«t 

North 

Kant 

.Starava  Artel.... 

North 

ICaitt 

North  

KaHi 


17 
23 
H.l 
442 
274 
lUI 
23,'i 
48 
2,'i 

uri 

30 

no 

.'.4 
.-■4 


122 
ITH 
248 
118 
407 
Hill 
31 

:i7 

142 
188 


le  Hill    

133 

102 

o 

1112 

heaat  I'oint 

3 

Total 

0,  .-Nil 

1891. 

.Iiilv     24      North  

2.'i  HaHt.anil  Lillh*  Kimt  . 

.ViiK.      I  Norlh, anil /apailni  .. 

11       .    ill) 

13      KlIHl 

17    <li> 

Si'pt.    24      N  irlli  

(let.      23    ih) 

28     Staraya  Ariel  

Nov,     IK  KiiHl  (hv  iiiaraiiil(*rfi). . 

23      North  .' 

Kor  watriinien  H  looil  . 

Tolal  


181 
20 
».1 
83 

30 
104 


.401 


'  The  veai'H  18111-03  rover  the  periiHl  ol  I  he  iiiihIiih  x'i\eiiili  iliiriiii;  wliieh  laiiil  killing  wan  liioiteil  lo  the  noiniiiiil  liunre 
of  7,t'>4NI  MetiU  a  \ear  to  8ii]iniy  tiHiit  lor  the  .VIeiils.  The  exeeMH  over  this  tiuni-o  in  1801  in  iliie  to  the  t'ael  thai  t'le  Hkin^ 
taken  prior  to  the  iliite  ol  the  ii>:n-einent,  •lone  1,*>,  were  not  inelnile<l  in  the  liiiiiteil  i|notn  allowed,  this  Iteiiii:  helil  hy  the 
affeitlH  lo  (le^iii  on  the  ilate  nt  the  ajfreeiueiit.  .\s  a  resnit  of  tins  iin.iuee.ssMr\  reiilrit'tion  of  lauil  klllinu;  the  riHikeriea  are 
uow  jsruxiily  o'  enluvkuU  with  bulla. 


viilent  that 
ken  prntr  t,o 


204 


THE    Kl'K    SEALS   OF   THE    I'RIBILOK    ISLANDS. 
MT.  PAVI.  INI.AND,  1894. 


l>ut«. 


liiiokorv. 


Tiital 
inalen 
killed. 


I  >»!<'. 


Kuokery. 


Total 
iiialt'H 
killi'd. 


1892. 
Mnv    10 

Koel' 

1892. 
K3      Aug       B 
155      Nov.     11 
128                   12 
132                   10 
119                  22 
497                   22 
489                  26 
450                   28 
534       Dec,        5 
274                     16 
403 

354    '                 16 
293    I 
320 

1 

10 

24 
.10 

<lo 

do 

l{e.f 

Tolstoi  aud  Middle  Hill 

Middle  Hill          

111 
151 

Jiiiii*  10 

/oltni 

143 

18 

Reef 

Ueef 

Zauadni  

Hall'wHy  Point 

56 

25 
JlllV      1 

Middle)  Hill  and  l.iikaiiin... 

lieit 

MiddluHill 

Zidtoi          

12 

10 

158 

113 

25 

5 

8 

/apadDi 

15 

Jteiif                       

25 

Zapadiii     and     Northeast 
Point 

Aui;.     1 

8 
0 

Liikaiiin  and  /olloi 

Middle  Hill 

Halfwav  Point 

Total 

Middlt'Iilll 

5,009 

MT.  OKORfSK    IMI.AND,   ISOil. 


1802. 
Mav    14 

20 
ililliu    2 

H 
15 
22 
.■III 

7 
14 
21 


•I  iily 


Id 

(»(it.    20 


Xapadni 

North  

.    ..  do 

KilHt 

Staraya  Artel 

ICaatiind  Little  Kant 

Starava  .\rtel 

Eaat.' 

Staraya  Artel  and  North    . . 

East.  .North,  near,  and  Sta- 
rava Artel 

Norrh  

North  anil  Kant  

North,  KaHt,  and  .Stnrava 
Artel ... 


1892. 
^U■t.     25  '  Zapadni 

26  I  North,    Kaat,  and  Staraya 

Art.l 

North  

Staraya  Artel 

Kast .' 

/apadni  

North 

Ejiat 

Kao<l  fo7  wat4'lunen  for  aea- 
Hon 


Total . 


21 

30 
.50 
15 
.53 
.54 
II 
54 

30 


2,502 


■■i     1  ■•■ 


Mi! 


MT.  PAVI.  IHIiA.KD,  lMf».'t. 


1893. 
May    10 
.1  lllie     1 

» 

lU 

20 

26 

July     6 

6 
10 

10 
14 
17 

Koef 

192 
147 
14 
305 
471 
738 

489 

4 

171 

3 
215 
IIH 

1893 
.iQly 

AuK- 
Nov. 

1 
1 

21 
27 
2 
5 
7 
2 
7 

14 
22 
27 
30 

T'lkanin  and  ZoUoi 

1,044 

88 

252 

25.5 

43 

69 

82 

173 

208 

188 

67 

do 

l!v  watehnien 

Heel' 

liorbaieliai'id  l.uknnin 

T(dKloi 

/oltoi 

Zolt«i.-' 

do 

Northtuiat  Poitit 

Midi'lnHill 

Keei 

Keef . 

do 

Ijdkanin   .... 

Tolntoi 

Nnrtlii'URt  iNiintund  Snath- 

For  watchmen  to  date 

Total 

Midillelliil 

,5,500 

Hallway  Point  

NT.  4i)BOR(JB  IMI.ANU,  INW.I. 


'J!! 


k 
( 
I 


1803. 
Mav  20 
29 
June  12 

21  j 
26 
8  I 
15 
22 
2!l 


.Tuly 


L 


starava  Artel 

North     

....  do 

Kant 

North  and  Staraya  Artel. . . 

Kant 

North  

Staraya  Ariel  and  North. . . 
Kant.' 


49 
132 
107 
278 
555 

90 

92] 
171 

85 


1893. 

Oet.  20 
23 
27 

Nov.  6 
17 


North 30 

Zapadni 77 

EaHtaiid  North 47 

North  and  .starava  Artel....  38 

do 31 

K 1  for  watehinen 44 

ToUl 1,880 


..J 


DAILY    KILLlMiS. 


205 


MT.  PAi;i<  inL.AND,   1894. 


r 


ItaU). 


1TO4.' 
Mm  » 
23 
:il 
14 
ll» 

a:i 

•-'5 
4 


JlllH' 


J  Illy 


A 
l:i 
17 

21 


UtHikiTy. 


Tilt  II I 
iiiiili>« 
killed. 


Sea  I.ion  (Siviitnh)  Itock 87 

Tiilxtoi  anil  Koi'l lut 

(iorliatcli 141 

Ki'ef  1,21.1 

ToUloi ttiiil  :ili(lill«  Hill  ....  541 

Zaiiailiii I  i.'i» 

LiiKanin !  55H 

Zoltiii 1  987 

Nurtheant  I'uint ;  869 

ilii I  917 

Ilalt'wRy  I'liiiit 1  r>2'.> 

I.ukaDi'ii I  2.11 

/apadni 014 

Uwf 1  1.177 


Uate. 


1894 

Jiilv 

2:1 

24 

2.1 

:iii 

Ali;^. 

1 

4 

X.iv. 

li 

21 

2>l 

D.M. 

4 

ItiMikvry. 


ToUl 
nialea 
killed. 


Norllirast  IViliit :I70 

ilo 1,02.1 

<lo 909 

Mi.lill.<  Hill  1.14 

llall'wuy  I'liint 287 

Ui'of...' 272 

Miilillc  Hill  i:t2 

U.'i'f !  147 

Tiil»tiii  and  Itfcl' i  87 

....  ill) I  218 

TdlHtiii.  I.iikaiiiii.aiiil  Iti'i't'.  '  474 

For  wati'liiiii'ii  tii  ilutu 80 

'i'lilal    13,298 


MT.  (JBORCiK  IMI.AND.  IN«I. 


1894. 
May  2:1 

JlllM'      8 

22 

July     2 


lg9S.< 

May  27 

27 

June     1 

4 

? 

13 

II! 

20 

24 

2fi 

1 


Julv 


3 
» 
10 
13 
17 
19 
22 


North 

llo 

KttHt 

.Slarava  Arti'l. 

/.apailni 

Ka.sl 

Stanivtt  Artul. 
.North. 


1894. 

411 

July     26 

126 

Aug.      fl 

I'M 

(let.      20 

468 

2« 

303 

Nov.       li 

181 

249 

Zaiiailni I'lt 

Kittle  KuHt  anil  North IS2 

Nnrlh SS 

Kaal 19 

North 38 

Wati'hiiiou'it  food  for  .si.'anun .  62 

Total 2,972 


(tT.  PAVI.  IHIiA.'VU.   IMW.V 


Watchmen,  Kortheaat  I'oint 

Rwf 

Watclinii-n.  NortliniiHt  Toiot 

Reef 

VVatchiuen.  Northrant  J'oiiit 

Tolntiil 

Wuti'linien,  NortheaHt  I'Diiit 

NorthitaHt  I'oint 

Ueef 

Ilairwuy  I'oint 

Knglinh  Hay 

JCaiiHiIni  ...' 

LiiKanin 

Northeaiit  I'oint 

<lo 

Korf 

HallVay  I'oint 

/a|iHiliiT 

NurthcaHt  I'oint 


181t.'i. 


li     July 


79 

3 

76 

3 

184 

2 

1,061 

I.U" 

S75 

751 

861 

364 

!t60 

431 

1,138 

321 

8.14 

827 


Auk. 

Cit. 
Noy. 


10 
31 

1 

9 
12  1 


I>.i 


25 


26 
1 


II 
12 


I.ukaniii 

Keef 

Walrhnifn  to  dati' 

Watcliiiii'ii 

Miildlf  Hill j 

WHti'liineii i 

Tolstoi I 

WiilrhhiHii ! 

Kwf , 

Middle  Hill  | 

Wati'hnieii 

Keef 

Wuti'hiiK^n 

Hei'f 

Tolstoi 

Iteef 

Watcliiueii 

Total 1 


286 

185 

18 

3 
106 

6 
l.'iM 

4 

ii6 
4 

7H 
III 
127 
81 
1611 
9 


2.  324 


HT.  «i)KOK44K  IMIiAIVU,   IMW.l. 


18IIS. 

May    25 

Jiiiio    3 

14 

24 

21 

26 

29 

1 


8 
II 
21) 
22 
30 

6 


Jnlv 


Aiiu. 


lirtMit  Kant 

North 

do 

.Slaruya  Artfl 

/ii|iauni  (by  liuardl 

(treat  and  Little  Kaat 

i'.apadiii  (liy  Kiiard)  ...  . 

North  . 

/.apiidiii 

Xnpadni  iliy  Koarili 

lireatand  LitlleKaHt 

ZH)iiidul  (liy  ijiiard) 

.Starava  ArleTand  North. 

Zapadni  (liy  guard) 

do '. 


Hi 
2» 

139 

4S3 

.1 

471 
2 

1.16 

232 

3 

538 

3 

270 

IK 


1895. 

Oct.      1.1  North  ; 

19  /apaili.'i  (liy  Kuardi 1 

21  North  2ii 

23  Zapadni 18 

26  Zapadni  (liy  Riiaril) 3 

29  North  ,  16 

Nov       2  Zapadni  (li\  giiardl 3 

2  Kant '. 27 

n  Zapadni  (liy  guard) 2 

12  North  8 

17  Zapadni  (hy  Kuard) 4 

26  North  ....'. 30 

Total 2.522 


I  The  reduri'd  niiniborof  drive.H  to  Ih'  noted  in  Ihixand  the  followiim  yrar  «a»  due  to  the  ail  inn  of  the  Tn'iwiiry  aKentu 
Inllinitint;  the  niiniluT  of  driven  from  eiudi  rookery  to  two  for  the  aniHon.  Thin  niialakeii  poliey  wan  followed  to  avoid 
the  Hiip|ioni>d  iiuuriouH  I'tl'eitH  of  ilrlvinK.  a  ooneeHiihin  nliieh  '<hoiild  never  have  Iiim'II  made.  Ihe  ntmilt  wan  a  diuid 
VHUtaKe  rather  tlian  nil  adviiutaife  to  the  herd. 

»  See  note  to  1894      Hern  aKAlu  the  driving  ^va»  limited  to  two  drives  at  lonj;  iiitei  vaU  in  the  le^iilai  ni'ar"iii. 


206 


Hi 


TilE    Flit    SKAL8    OF    THE    I'RIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


NT.  PAll.  IMKAIVD,   INIM. 


Dull 

IHMl 
Miiv 

i:i 

28 
H 
lU 

2;i 

24 
27 
21t 

2 

:i 
n 

7 
H 
11) 

i:i 

IlooKt'ry. 

Sen  l.ion  (Siviili'li)  liiH 
'loUloi 

•k.... 

Total 
male* 
killi'il. 

121 

102 

141) 

28a 

1,414 

l.4(IK 

2.(i7t) 

i,;it»M 

1.100 
I,5:i5 

7H4 

1)111 

1.271 

1,04.1 

Dal... 

.Inlv     14 
15 
Itt 

22 

■iii 

27 

Oil.      15 
Der.     Ill 

1 

NnriliiMidt 
\Wi'i  anil  > 
TolHtol.  M 
ISav 

iioki  ry. 

'I'lilal 
iiiali'H 
killiMl. 

Igflfl. 
1, 161) 

Iidtni 

ildlellill.  Kn 

KliHll 

H4B 

>liini> 

Hftf 

/oltoi          

1  i:iH 

NorOirasl 
....  ilii    . . 

I'oiiit  

80H 

ilo 

1,047 

Kcil 

KduIUIi    llav,  MMillit 

Tolttloi 

Nllrtllllll^'t.  I'niiit 

liilV 

rolnvinu.. 
Uiikniiiii. 
liipl'.... 

M'l 

Kilovi,      /olioi, 

l.llllil 

•I  Illy 

Miililli'  Hill.  TiilHtiii,  I 

.iikii- 

ill) 

1121 

For  wiit4;liniHii  to  dale. 

Ziilloi 

Killed  lor  looil  toilatx. 

Tolul 

14 

/aiMicliii  

INilox'iiia 

lici'l'aiiil  /Ciilliit 

.•ill 

i,54r. 

MortlmiHt  I'liiui 

24. 617 

MT.  «>KOK<SI<:  IMI,.4,\U,   IM9«. 


IMMI. 
May 


Jiiiii- 


Jiilv 


I 


Nirth 

..    do 

..  .do 

Eait 

/»!  'idiii , 

Niiri:i  and  Staniva  Artid  . 

KUHl 

/iipailiK 

Norlli  ui.  I  StJiraya  ArUd  . 

Kant  and  IJltlu  KilhI 

/.a|>iiili:i 

Norlli  and  Ktura^.:   Vrtcl  . 


1 898. 
.Inly     21      Kaal... 

24  North  and  Staniya  Artel  . 

Oit.      20    do 

21     /apudni 

31      WaliliiiMn  

Nov.      2  Norlh  and  Staravu  Artel  . 

14      WiililiiMiii 

28    do 

:iu  Nsrilip.id  M.iraya  Arli'l  . 


15 
40 

100 

.-;« 

5118 

ug» 

804 

:i:i;i 

700 
614 
221 

487 


Total  . 


221 
:i08 

i8 
6 

v. 

8 
17 


0,  lil7 


Ml'.   I>.%l'l.  IMI.A.'Vn,  IMW7. 


1807. » 
Mar     ? 
17 
11 


May 

.1  iini' 


July 


Siviiii  li  n.i. !: 

do 

do 

Tolntoi 

UlKf 

/aiiadiii 

/oltoi.  lint'.  I.iikaiiiii 

Tolxloi.  Miildlo  Hill,  Kng 
HhIi  Hay 

Nortlie».s't  I'oiiil 

....  do 

I.nkaniii 

Ki'vl. /.oltoi 

TolHtoi.  Mldillo  Hill,  Kng 
lixli  Hay 

Norlhi'aHt  I'oint 

I'olovina 

I{('«t'.  Liikuniu 


1!) 
211 
90 

:i6 

402 

708 

1, 1108 
71H) 
7011 
208 
703 

1,230 

1,713 

456 

804 


1807. 
July 


Aug, 


NortlienBt  I'oinl 

/Caiiadni 

Middlo  Hill,  KnuliHli  liny.. 

Ki'i't'.  /oltoi.  I.iikanin 

Nortlii'iint  I'oint 

I'olovina 

Keof,  I.iikanin 

/uiiadni 

TolHtni,  Middle  Hill 

Norllu'iiBt  roiiit 

do 

I'oiovina 

Kei't',  I.iikanin 

Miiidlu  Hill,  Kiii!li.Hli  Hay   . 
Keef 

Total  todati)  — 


1.241) 
SHtt 
21)7 
!I88 

1,H22 
274 
.V.'e 
,M4 
199 
268 
270 
108 
418 
101 
172 


>16,bb:i 


•SI 

.'I 


I 

V 


'  InthiH  vtMir  iiMiit'  nurtiial  ttriviiiu  wh.-i  |)uriiiittr<l,  hut  <lio  inrrciMed  i|iinta  is  mtl  \v)in)l\  ilnn  (o  tliiii  I'urt.  lu  the 
HOiiMoii  ol'  IHlMt  till'  haiiliiiu  uniunil^  t't'lt  tlio  beiielicifit  ottVrtn  u!' tin' »ior/uA-  rivfmli  at'  tHtflt.  Nii  piiprt  HturviMl  toilfatli  in 
that  Mi'annn  anil  iIm>  n^siiM  wiim  u  lur^ui'  pntportioiior  MiirvivoM.  A  pnrt,  uIao  of  t1ii<  mimiIh  which  tlii«  liiniteil  oponittolis 
nl'  I'^iri  I'liiU-*!  to  Mr4-iiro  wrri'  iloiihtlcMH  tiiki>n  into  thi'  i^iiotii  of  I89A. 

''ThiM|uotii  of  IHU7  wiiM  h'ft  'aih'Hiiiln  iiiiiliMihriliri't'tiniini'  thr  tniinniHHion,  ami  tht'  ilriviim  wan  nlaiiiii'd  with  u  vh«w 
lo  making  lhtM|iiota  rrpn^Hciit  thr  hiU  priMliitt  of  the  liauliim  Kroniitls.  For  tht«  naiuu  roaHon  thr  killiug  was  (ontinneil 
into  AiiKiiHt. 

^  I'hiH  total,  UH  writ  a:  ""it  t'ur  St.  Uuurgt'  Uluiid  folluwiug,  duua  nut  luolmlu  ^iich  avmla  ai  may  have  Iwrii  kilk'tl  lor 
tood  iu  thi)  full  uf  Ibu  your  18b.-. 


SUM.MAUY    OK    KIM.INOS. 
ST.  UKUHfJK  IMLATJU,   IMW7. 


207 


l)at». 


lKtf7. 

XI  uy  '.':i 
June  t 
i:i 
1« 
lu 
'.'4 


lloiikt>ry, 


July 


Ni.rlh 

EHHt 

Wiitcliiiien 

Kiist 

WntcliiiiiMi  — 

do 

/iipiiilni 

Wjitfliiiipii. . . . 
SlaniVH  Artel. 

WiitcMiiien 

Kaat 


Total 
iiialfH 
kilM. 


45 
4 

I'lii 
4 
2 

1411 

70 
4 

•J27 


Ilalr. 


Kuuk(>r\ . 


IKU7 
.Iiil\ 


A  UK. 


1(1  I  Walclmii'ii 

Ill     Stara\n  Ar'trl  anil  North   .. . 

Ill      Kiist  .' 

Ill     /apaUiii 

-'J      KaHt.    North    anil    Slarava 

Artrl :.. 

:il      \Vat<  hinrii 

J      i;n»t 

4     North  Hoil  Stariiva  Aril  I.. .. 

10      Watiliioi'ii .' 

lu     V,»h\.   North     anil     Staravu 
Arti'l 

I  Total  loilatv 


Total 
iiinlo* 
kllliMl. 


li 

JXt 
■.'1)11 
lOH 

.i'M 

III 

170 

ifl;! 


L'II7 

,:!07 


SiimiiKini  of  Mill  killinf/Hjor  all  itiiriioaes  on  I'ribilof  UlaiKla,  J,SUi-l,S!)7.' 


I)Hta. 


,>t.  I'aill. 


1870 
1(71 

1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
187« 
1877 
1878 
1870 
18811 
1881 
1S82 
1883 


15,314 
8I.HU3 
81.81'.! 
81.1187 
08,  i:i!t 
84,  'Hid 

83,  ITiV 
07,810 
88,  ,'iMI 
88,  L'21 

84,  77P 
8:i,  774 
70,  834 
113,  •.'II.') 


St. 
licoriii'. 

8.  4.W 
•Jl.  ir.7 
27. (KM! 
27.  1110 
12,44« 
1 1 .  MM) 
11  .'•idO 
lA,  5(10 
'/(),  804 
'.'2.  IIH) 
L'0. 113!) 
21.281) 
U.  1178 
10.214 


I'otal. 


'23.  773 
102.  INK) 
1(18,810 
100,  177 
1 10  .'i8.'i 
KM!.  4ii() 
04.  fi57 
84.311) 
100,  3'.'3 
110.411 
10,'>,  718 
10.\  0«3 
911,  812 
79,  .'iOO 


Date. 


1884, 
1885 
18Hfl 
1887 
1888 
1880, 
181)0 
IHUI 
1802 
18113 
1801 
1805 
181HI 
18'J7' 


SI.  I'aill. 


M. 
88. 
88, 
811, 
81). 
87, 
21. 
0, 

r>, 

5, 
13, 

I'A 

24, 

Hi. 


8ni 

880 
(IH.% 
111)2 
27(1 
304 
1)20 
.-170 
1101) 
5IHI 

•208 
324 
.117 
003 


St. 
( ieoi-;:i., 

1(1.  .'i73 
1(1,144 
lfl,43(i 
1(1,  lillH 
17,1.34 

«'.  ?31) 
2,  4(11 
2,  502 
l,KOil 
2.  072 
•'  ."(•*•' 
fli  137 


olal. 


111.1,434 
10.-1,(124 
104.  ,V.>1 
10,1,  7IKI 
103.  .104 
102.  «I0 
•28,  0,10 

r2, 010 

7.  .111 
7.  308 
l(i,  ^.'70 
14,846 

311, 1)54 
10,200 


11 


il 


n 


I  This  talili'  Imluilrs  all  loali's  liiUiHl  lor  any  iiiir|ios«  mi  Ihi'  tslaiiils,  jiiipi         ^, 

totalH  hiTi'  ({ivrn  ain  taki'ii  fin  llir  ywir  lipginiiliii;  January  1   am;  fniliiiK 


.  .  .     .    ,  Htajjy  ..(eaU  killiMl  liif  I'oiiil  :iiiil  ufalH  wliimo 

akiimwuro  not  acci'pleil  hylhr  Ir.sjici's.     Th«  totalH  hiTi'  ({ivi'O  aro  taken  lor  the  year 
Ui'i'enilier  31,  anil  iherelore  ilo  not  loirnaponil  to  llie  totalB  an  repteaeiiteil  liy  theiiiiota. 
'I'll  ilatc  of  .ViiKiirtI  7  on  St.  I'aul;  of  Autjost  10  on  St.  (leorcu. 


Jlevord  of  killiiiiiH  on  \orllie(iKl  I'oiiit  (.si,  I'niil)  and  /.•ipadi'i  (St,  Uton/i)  lookerim,  IS:  l-l.^:!)7. 

XoTK  —  These  tliiiires  are  in  part  taken  from  tlio  roreKiiiui;  talilv  of  killinun.  Where  IIiIm  lioes  not  ilialiimiiiHli  the 
riKikerieH  eoneerneil.  the  informntiou  iit  taken  froni  the  loi;  of  St.  I'aul  Islanil.  T!ifi  resiilu  fnini  this  t  ivii  isnlateil  iiHikerieH 
are  intereatiiiK  anil  important  iu  that  they  ahow  the  Hume  rulativu  eontlitions  aa  are  ahown  liy  the  her.!  aa  a  » liiil... 


I'aet.     lu  the 

III  ileal  h  in 

III  operatloiia 

with  u  vh'w 
lis  lontiniieil 

en  kiUeil  lor 


Date. 


Total 

!  /apailni. 


Total 

Northeast 

I'nint.i 


1871 4.840  •20,113 

1872 5,104  •28,082 

1(173 7,,107  •26,3711 

1874 '  1,436  31, ,1(10 

1875 I, '204  3,1.181 

1876 1  580  '20,014 

1877 1  1,380  '20,'2(1B 

1878 1  B,4'28  '22.1MI1, 

1878 1  4,860  -.'0,212  1 

1880 6,037  •2.1.86.1 

1881 3.861  18.'J84 

1882 21.482 

1883 .1.'226  >13.423 

188* 5,403  '23,068 


Date 


•Total 
/.apailni. 


188.1, 
1880 
1887 
1888 
\M^ 
1880 
1801 
181)2 
180t 
1804 
1801 
1806 
1807 


3.  873 

4,  321 
4,017 
4,  003 
4,01,1 
1.330 

50!) 
1)2 

481 

■:87 

1,122 

21)3 


Tnlal 

Norlheasl 

I'oiiit. 


Ill,  132 

26  111  1 

•J!)  1102 

31,834 

28,  340 

I  (1,  .182 

2,  820 

10 

6 

4,118(1 

4,  103 

1).  306 

6,  321 


^'11 


'The  average i|iii>ta  fri.ni  NorllmasI  Point  for  twelve  yeara  (1871  to  1882)  was  '24,500,     With  very  li  i  loser  killinK 

il  only  viehleii  this  year  iihoiil  one  fourth  th's  amount. 

'In  this  year  iia  well  aa  the  your  preeeding  the  iiuota  was  eontraeleil  to  ahiuit  8.''..ii(mi  for  i  oiniin  nial  reason.'. 


I 


■  1)  ^1 


'51 

if 


208  THE    VVR   SKA'.S   OK   TUK    I'RIlilLOK    ISLANDS. 

/■'ill-  »«((/»  killed  on  Ihv  inlaiiil  of  St.  l'aul,for  all  pHrpoaei,  from  l,S7(l  hi  /.s'SH,  liolli  hirliiHin'. 
|('iiiii|iil<'(l  friiiii  liiblcH  iin  Hie  in  the  'rruaniirv  I>i'|iarliii<-iil.| 


Vi'iii. 


Si'jiU  killrtl  fur  niitivcH'  fwMl. 


'•"P"  TirrT 


ScrIh  kille<I  for  iikliis  fur 


TiiIiiIh  III'  bill  lii'liirH  killt'il, 
fio('i>)ii(Ml,  ami  n',ii>rtt'il. 


187(1  . 
1871  . 
I87a. 
187;i  . 
1H74 
1875  . 
187(1 
1877  . 
IK7H  . 
18711 
1880. 

1881  . 

1882  . 
188 1  . 
1884. 
18H.'i  . 
1880. 
1887. 
1888. 
188U. 


2,800 
2,877 
r.,  121 
.'>,  480 
4, 81(7 
3,  745 
:i,»58 
■i,  (K)7 
.•■.,  200 
.'■|,071 
4,413 


2, 982 
2,741 
2.788 
2,  824 
2,177 
2, 178 
2. 280 


0, 440 

2,  :)4i 

0,  »I0 

2,  (KKl 
4,874 
6,  282 

4.041 
4.718 
,•■..  »70 
4,400 
",  5118 
,1. 17.'> 
:<,  108 
11,907 
3.184 
3, 081 
4, 207 

3,  702 
3,4110 


SkiiiH 

SkiiiN 

ai- 

rf- 

ri'|)|pll. 

.jcctail. 

0.449 

2,29(1 

.'il 

.-•.,  30.1 

l,.Wl 

1,  i:i8 

892 

4,22.^ 

649 

6,784 

498 

3,  004 

1,997 

2,  853 

1,188 

3,  032 

1,080 

3,  898 

2,  072 

3,  408 
0,008 
3,  302 
2.  194 
2,  r,82 
2,  .108 

2,  480 

3,  97.". 
3,  700 
2, 570 


1,41K 

1,470 
1,813 
974 
l,32.'i 
676 
001 
232 
'(12 
830 


Itaclie. 

liirs. 


0,065 

7.'i,  .">85 
09, 782 
74. 408 
88,308 
84.  933 

74,  138 
.'>8,702  ! 
78,595  ; 
77,  280  ' 

75,  900  1 
76,2)6  I 
74,  aiB  I 
57, 145  ' 
82,213  ' 
82, 908 
82, 180 
82.708 
80,330 
81,712 


Skiim 

ar- 
riipted. 

6,017 
74, 028 
69,576 
73,  884 
88,  2.58 
84,  800 
71, 137 
58,733 
78, 570 
77, 280 
75. 872 
70, 169  , 
74,581  , 
57,  070 
82,080  I 
82,868  i 
82, 150  i 
82,679  ' 
80,  314 
81,098 


KkiiiM 

r«. 
Jectul. 


48 
'.1.^7 
200 
.524 
110 

73 
1 

30 

25 


28 
07 
78 
75 
127 
42 
30 
29 
10 
14 


Tohil..    67,,554     90,030     64,796     'J.''i.834   1,46:1,907    1,461,427       2,480 


llai^lii' 
liirH. 


12.  514 
77,  926 
70, 098 
70, 498 
93.  242 
91,215 
79,  199 
62, 803 
83,  313 
83,  2,50 
HO.  366 
83,  774 
79, 834 
00, 313 
86, 120 
86, 092 
85, 201 
80.015 
84, 092 
Ki,  112 


.SkiiiH 

ai'. 
ccptiMl. 


0,017 
70,91K 
74,941 
75, 082 
92, 483 
90,  (U4 
77,  201 
ei..-i8.'i 
82. 202 

81.  178 
78, 020 

82,  226 
77,943 
.19,  204 
84,068 
85, 374 
84,  KIO 
H6,  0.54 
81,014 
84,  208 


tSkiiiH 
.Iwli'tl, 

0, 497 

1,(M)8 

1,7.57 

1.416 

7.59 

571 

l,99n 

1.218 

1,111 

2, 072 

1.446 

1, 537 

1,891 

1,049 

1,452 

718 

031 

201 

78 

S44 


(iraiiil 

(iiIhIh  of 

HealxkilU'il 

I'iiihII  piir. 

|IIIHI'H. 


1,-1,314 
81.803 
81,819 
81,987 
08.  139 
91,  9tK) 
83,  1.57 
07,8111 
88,519 
88,321 
84,770 
83, 774 
79,  KU 
63, 295 
88.801 

88,  880 
88, 085 

89,  092 
80, 270 
87,  392 


1,5,54,537    1,526,212     28.314 


1,022,001 


Note  — Thii  abnvtt  Htatenieiit  iiii'liiilna  all  ai'ala  killed  frnni  ftU  caiiHeH,  eltlicr  intentiiiniil  i>r  acvidviital,  inriilent  to 
tri'  taking  ol'  »«al  nkliis  on  tlir  iiland  o!  St.  I'niil. 

/'(((■  main  killed  on  the  isUind  of  SI.  (leori/e,  for  nil  piirpoiirt,  from  1S7(I  lo  tSS9,  both  inclusive. 


[Conipiltxl  from  tablea  on  file  in  the  Tr('uiur,v  Urpartniuut. 


r' 


S<-ala  killed  for  natives'  I'oihI. 


Spain  killed  for  Hkin»  for 
lewBepH. 


Totala  iif  barlielorn  killed, 
aeoepted,  and  re.jertrd. 


I  V«ur. 


I'UPH. 


Hauh- 
eliirs. 


SkinH 


Skina 
re- 


eeptetl,  Jevteil. 


1870 

...      1,200 

1871 

1872 

1873    

1874 

. . .      2,  090 
. . .      2. 000 
...     2,190 
. . .      2. 446 

1875 

1870 

1877        .   . 

. ..      I,,5(MI 

. . .       1,  .500 

1,500 

187H 

1879  . 

...       1,.5(K) 
1 .  500 

1880    

1881  

1H82    

.    .       1.330 
...       1.031 

1883 

1881 

1885 

1880 

1887    

...       1.(810 
...       I., 500 
...       1,080 
...      1.286 
...       1,3.5(1 

1888 

1H89 

978 
...       1,071 

237 


237 


2.56 

,  .532 
.X43 
702 
812 
483 
475 
345 
319 
544 
.585 

,  4119 
512 


Total..     28,064       9,054 


250    . 
1.216 

504 

,505 

509  I 

371  I 

408  ' 

223 

304 

413 

471 
1,321 

280 


316 
279 
137 
303 
112 
7 
122 

15 
131 
114 

88 
232 


llaclie 
lora. 


7,  2.59 
18. 830 
2.5.  000 
25, 000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,  IHHI 
14,  744 
17,  772 
19  .4! 
18,907 
19.  446 
19,495 
14.  739 
14, 728 
14. 745 
14,000 
14.  727 
1 4, 047 
13,642 


SkinH 

ae- 
veptetl. 

7,259 
18, 830 
25,  OIHI 
25,000 
10,  (KNI 
10,000 
10,000 
14,744 
17,772 
19.  758 
18,830 
19,  ,360 
19,440 
U,  075 
14, 620 
14,086 
14,  ,578 
14,725 
'14,582 
13,641 


Skins 

Ilaclif. 

.jected. 

lurs. 

7, 2.59 

19, 007 

25,  (KM) 

25,0(8) 

10,  (HM) 

10,  000 

10,  (KK) 

1,5,(8)0 

19, 304 

8.-1 

2(l,6r<4 

77 

19,609 

80 

20,2.58 

55 

111,978 

64 

15,214 

108 

15,  073 

59 

15, 064 

28 

15, 1.50 

2 

1,5,  312 

05 

10,  0.50 

1 

14,  1,54 

Skina 

III'- 
eepted, 

7,  259 
19,007 
25,  (H)0 
2.5,  (HKI 
10.  OOO 
10,000 

10,  mio 

15,  (HK) 
18,988 
20, 322 
19, 395 
19, 869 
19,811 
15, 143 
14,  843 
14,990 
14,  Wl 
1,5,  190 
1,5,903 
13,921 


SkiiiH 

re 
ierled. 


7,  I98i     1,8.50       318.128       317,  ,5,50  628       327.182       324,698 

I 


310 
3(i2 
214 
389 
107 

71 
23(1 

74 
159 

no 

153 
233 


(irand 
tolalH  of 

seals 
killed  for 
all  pur- 
poses. 

8.  J  59 
21,1.57  - 
27,  OIHI 
27,  IW) 
12.  440 
11,  5(8) 
11,500 
10,  ,500 
20, 804  ' 
22,  19(1 
2(1.  939 
21.289 
19.  978 
16.214 
16,  ,573 
10,  144 
10,  430 
10,608 
17,034 
15,  225 


2,484         3,55,246 


Note.  -Tlie  above  statement  IneludnH  nil  Ruala  killnl  fruiu  all  cauaua,  either  iuteutioual  or  awideutal,  iucidout  to  tbu 
taking  of  seal  skins  on  tliH  island  of  St.  ()eort;e. 


STATISTICS    OK    KlLLIN(i8    FOK    ISiM). 


2(»!) 


Fitr  Hinh  killed  on  thf  ishtnils  of  .S7.  I'lnil  and  St.  (ii'or<ie,J'or  (til  itiir^niKiH,  I'min  IK^o  to 
itSN.V,  both  inrliiHtrv,  hciiuf  a  xummury  of  the  two  forciioitifi  tnhhs. 


Sl.l'aiil      St.(icort;i 


St-alH  killca  for  niitlviV  fowl : 

Uiicht'loi'H 

SrHU  killnl  Inr  HkiiiN  tor  Ii'hhix'H: 
IIiicIh'Iiith 

Skiiirt  luTcpti') 
SkiiiH  rrJiTtnl  (I  . 


Totiil  cil'  liHOlii'liirH  kill)')).  iiu<-K|it<Ml,  iiDil 

lll.il'lllll: 


llarlinlors. 

Skillrt  UC('*>plt>ll 

SkiiiM  ri'it'ctt'll  II 


I'lijiiiil  tiiliil  III'  KcalK  klllcil  lor  nil 


NIanil. 


(17,  r.r.4 
(III.  fl.iii 

114.  Tlili 

•J'l.  k;i4 

1,4A3,1M)7 
1. 401.427 

•i.  4811 


1,554,5:17 

l..VJ6,'J12 

2H,:il4 


piiri 


lOsi-M 1, 022. 001 


I.HJanil. 


II,  054 
7,  I9H 


:ilH.  r.'H 

:tl7,.MMI 

«'J8 


•Ml,  182 

:i24, 1'lOH 

2,484 


;i,5S,34« 


Tula  I. 


tW.  «8I 
7l,l«tt 
•-•7,  7W1 


1,778.112" 
:i.  KM 


1,881,71'.) 
I,8.'i(l.»lii 

au,  ;u8 


1,«77,M7 


a  Wii  liu\  I'  hail  orraaiiiii  lii  I'lill  attcntliiii  In  llir  wa»to  nliirli  tlienn  li|{iirt'ii  hIiiiw.  iIiii-  In  llir  killiii);  nl'  |iii|i<«  anil  hiiiIh 
wliimoHkiiiH  wi'n>  niLuiiilalilp  Inr  iiHe. 

Sfatiittirn  of  rvyiihtr  killinijx  for  the  iiiiota,  IH'.XS. 

NoTi:.  -Tlii'.Hi'  lablcH  ri'l'cr  oiilv  In  tlin  iliivi'H  of  lli«'i'i'i.'iiliir  killing  HPamiii.  Tlit^  totaN  ilu  mil  im  liiili'  Ilir  airiiiiiiilntiil 
fiMHl  Hkinx  III'  tliK  iiiitiiiiiii  ami  Hpriiii:  wliirli  liiraiiii'  a  |iarl  nl'  llio  iiiiiita  rriiiii  tliran  lluiircH  an  iili'a  nl'  the  rclallvK  ili'^nw 
of  i'XbauHlliiii  of  the  hauling  uroiimls  I'im'  IIii-  Ixmi  HcasniiH  can  lir  oblainril. 

Sr.  PAII,  I.SI,.\NI>. 


Date. 


1896. 


Knnkiry. 


June  10     /iilto 


20     Walrlinii'i 


23  NiirtliHiist  I'nint 

24    ilo 

27     Ki'bf 

2i)  .  Kntiligh  Oav.  Miilillr  Hill.  'I'uUtui . 

July    2'  Nnrtlieuit  f'oint 

3  ; <lo 

0     i{oltiii,  Liikanin 

7  I  Xniiailni 

%  ■■  INilovina 

10  I  Kii'f.  Zolliil 

13  I  Niii'theaHl  INiiiit 

14   ilo 

1!>     Ki*f,  Ziilliii 

16      Tolaloi,  Mhlilli'  Hill,  KhkHhIi  Hay  . 

21  NorllicBSt  roiiit 

22    (In 

21     roloviiia 

25  (.iikanin,  Kilovl,  /.oltoi,  Ifci'f 

27     Miililli!  lIllLToUtoi,  I.nkiiniii 


Toial. 


AniniHlB 
killed. 


283 


Kkjim'Ii'iI. 


LiirKd. 


Small. 


I'rrri'iil- 

iiK'' 
killi'il. 


1,414    

1,408 

2.  078   

1 . 308    

1,3IMI    

i 

1,  lll!>     . 

1,535    

784    

Hfll    

1,271    

["A  1    m™ 

I 

849              548 
1, 138              279 

803               811 
1.047    

5'J2              44    ' 
I,0,'I8                40 
037                35 

,585              313 

I,fi30  ,         1.008 

021               457 

344              47 

1,177              42 

137                53 

2,529    

ST.  (iKDKliK  ISL.ANK. 


189)1. 

■lime  19  Kast 

24  /apailni 

20  North  anil  Starava  Artel 
'J»  Ka»l 

July    2  /.apailni 

0  :  North  nnilStarava  Arti'l 

7  '  Kant  ami  l.itllo  EaHl  ... 

9  :  Xapiulni 

13  Nortli  ami  Ktara\a  .Vrti'l 

21  ;  Ea«t 

24  North  ami  Mtarava  .\rti'l 


570 

5IW 

omi 

8(14 
333 
700 

r>i4 

2'Jl 
487 
221 

308 


32 
7li 
72 
112 
68 
5« 
57 
40 
4li 


15181 


210 


I'HK    FUK   SEALS    (IF   TlIK    I'UIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


attUiiitiiH  of  m/ttl(ir  killiiiffx  fitr  tlir  quoin,  IH'JT, 

ST.   I'AI  I,. 


Dull' 


lHil7. 

>llllll1  Ifl 
18 

2;i 

;iii 
I 


.liilv 


All-. 


» 
1:! 
U 
10 
17 
l» 

•n 

Zi 
24 
2A 
27 
29 
111  I 
III 


ItiHikei'N . 


Itc.f 

/iiiiRiliii 

/.iilliii,  liri'l,  mill  l.iikuiiiii. .   

Tolxtiii.  Miililli'  Mill,  mill  KiiiiIIkIi  llnv 

Norllii'iiMt  I'liiiil  .    

...  ilo 

liiikaiiiii 

lii'i'f  mill  /"lliii 

I'lilstni.  Miilille  Hill. mill  I'.iii-lixli  liny 

Niirtlii'swl  I'liiiil 

ri)lii\  iiiii I 

lii-rl'  mill  Liikmiiii 

Nortlii'iist  I'liiiit 

/ii|iiiiliii 

Miilillit  Hill  mill  lliiulUli  liny 

Liikniiiii.  /nlliii.  miiriti't'f 

NiirlliKiiHt  I'liiiil 

I'lllllvillU 

I.iikmiiii  mill  lii'il' 

/nniiiliii 

TiilHliiimiil  Miililli>  IIIII 

Niinlicimt  Piiiiil 

ilii  

Viiliivirn  

Kri-r  mill  l.iikiitiiii 

Miililli'  llilliiiiil  KiiKlixli  Diiv 

Kl'Bl 

Total 

ST.  (ilCdRili;. 


AliiiiiiilM 

lii'.jfi 

UmI.  I 

IVlreill- 

ti)>i> 
killi'il. 

WflBliI 

kilM. 

liiirKK. 

Siniill. 

hKiiih,* 

rninitljt. 

4»2 

144 

no 

(1,-. 

;iin 

1:10 

211 

07 

0 

"OH 

,'..',(! 

184 

4H 

7.7 

I.IKW 

4112 

211 

114 

7.4 

Tito 

:i7ii 

214 

57 

7 

7»3 

28H 

224 

5H 

2IIN 

1(17 

tci 

.■i3 

1.  1 

703 

2211 

I7S 

03 

7.8 

1,2:10 

.'(III 

3II« 

67 

7  0 

1.713 

3,Vi 
97 

Ml 

11,-. 

(15 
(IH 

4R« 

7.5 

HI14 

140 
21(1 

1138  ' 

noi 

50 
5H 

1,240 



SMIi 

301 

.ise 

.53 

7.H 

297 

IH(I 

412 

(HI 

8 

'.\M 

'■Vi' 

1.174 

30 

7 

1 .  322 

a(HI 

2.  047 

34 

274 

nil 

(108 

24 

8.5 

."■211 

3,'-)2 

l.:i8ii 

23 

7.4 

.M4 

4UI 

HUD 

27 

8.3 

lOli 

221 

54.-. 

20 

2AA 

208 
3K3 

1,114 

70H 

III 
20 

27« 

KM 

UK 

45(1 

10 

7  0 

IIH 

II.MI 

1,410 

19 

8 

nil 

ISO 

;i7(l 

15 

7.7 

172 

200 

48A 

2(1 

1 

1(1.  8! » 

1807. 

.riiiiH  16 

10-24 

25 

.liilv     1 

3 

3 

7 

8-10 

13 

in 

17 

10 

22 

24  31 

Auj;.     2 

4 

5  0 

III 

II 


KDHt 

Kiioil  MkiiiR 

/tipailiii 

KoimI  skiiiH  

•Staraya  v\  rtcl 

l''oinl  ilk  ins 

Kast 

FoimI  skills 

Nnrlli  Hiid  Slnriiyii  Arli'l 

Kast 

FihhI  skint* 

/apailiii 

Kast.  Ninth, anil  Staraya  Artel . 

Fooil  skins 

Kast 

North  mill  .Stai'a\ a  Artrl 

FihmI  skills 

Kast.  Niirlli.  anil  Staraya  .Vrli'l  . 
FiMiil  skins 


I, Ml 

III 

140 


(i 
253 
209 

4 
104 
.301 
III 
1711 
l,'i3 

li 


Totul  . 


2, 142 


HKCArrni.ATioN. 


!I3 

1.50 

36 

1 
1 

74 

IB2 

34 

21 

330 

10 

41 

741 

22 

34 

(115 

0:hi 

20 
22 

7.5 
7 

71   ' 

r.fl3 

1,(120 

13 

18 

H2 

7.3 

47 

002 

Hi 

23 

].. 

725 

10    ... 



87 

1,343 

12 

St.  Paul  la'.aiiil 

St.  (ii'oryr  iHlaiiil  . 


16.819 
2. 142 


':i 


,•1 


Total / MH,  9(11 

I  The  total  nnniber  of  nninialn  rejiMtoil  iliirin)!  tho  scaaon  ran  nut  In'  tnki'n  as  iiiiliintinK  tlio  nunilit'r  of  liai'liilorii  rot 
of  killnlile  aeeli'fl.as  many  of  thrsr  wrre  driven  several  tiiiies  anil  many  of  the  yonnuer  Heals  iloiihtli'SH  ilii  not  I'onie  tn  the 
islanils  nt  alldnringtliR  killiii):  season.  The  niiinll  seals  will  he  taken  into  the  'iiiiitasof  1808  anil  1800:  the  large  Heals  go  to 
swell  the  already  overHtiuked  reserve  of  lir)H'diii|;  male  life.  I'litil  this  exeess  of  male  life  is  reduced  to  nonnal  i'oudiliuu8 
au  etfort  Hlnmld  he  made  each  year,  as  was  done  in  18117.  to  evhaiist  the  supply  of  killalile  heals. 

'Theweijtht  here  (jiveii  is  that  of  100  skins  weijihed  in  lots  of  lOenrli. 

^Tliia  iuciniles  all  auiiuaU  killed.    The  nkiiiH  ot  131  aniuialH  were  rejected  by  the  lesseeg. 


I 


liii! 


LAM)    Ahl)    !SKA    KlLLIN(i. 


211 


Statistics  niintuliiifi  land  >in>i  sen  killinif,  tS71-JS!)^, 

Niit<".  A  Ntiiil.v  <•('  MiJH  tiililr  rliMi'ly  iiiilii'iittM  the  iliM'Iiii<>  of  tlio  linrtl  Hinre  IH8I,  dm  innnHiirtMl  on 
itH  liiiiiliiiK  );roiiiiilH,  iiiiil  hIiows  in  the  <'\|iiiiiNiiiii  oC  pelaKi*'  Hoiiliii);  the  <'niiNo  of  thiM  ihM'liiic. 


Year. 


1     I)tlt4«     j  Hauling     NiiiiiIht 
j     iiiiotn    '  tiriMiiiiln  lit' 

'   tlllt'il.n      ilrivi'ii.i     ilriri'H.n 


liclii'loi'n  iMit 
comr  to  til" 

I  BIMtlH  S"  t" 

ll  ciinilitiiiiis 


1871 .Inly  '.M 

IMTa July  :•:. 

IH7:i .lulv  24 

1874 .iiilv  17 

1875 In!\    111 

1  S7« I'  A 11 )! .    1 

1877 I  .liilv  14 

1878 I  .lul'v  18 

18711 '  .Iiilv  IB 

1880 Iiilv  17 

1881 July  20 

188'J <l(>  .  .. 

188a Iiilv   IB 

1884 July  21 

1885 luly  27 

1880 lulv  2« 

1887 July  24 

1888 July  27 

188U '  July  111 

1890 Miilv  20 

1801 '. . . . . 

1892 

1 8911 

1804 Aii({.    4 

1805 July  27 

I8fl« ilo  . . 

1807 Aug.    7 


46 
4:1 
51 
til 
55 
■M 
44 
54 

78 
UO 
80 
81 
lUl 
1(10 
117 
III! 
1112 


4a 
au 
37 

41 

a  7 
ao 
a2 
a5 
ail 
a8 
a4 
ail 
au 

42 

oa 
74 

Oil 

7a 


111) 

74 

87 

55 

«•) 

«■) 

(<■( 

I') 

ai' 

21' 

42 

S7 

Killi'il 
III  laiiil.'i 


102,  IMIO 
108.810 

109.  177 

110,  .585 
100,  4O11 

94.  Iir.7 

84,  aio 
iiio.  a2a 
110.411 
105.718 
105.  INia 
IK),  812 
79.509 
105,  4.T4 
105.  024 
104.  521 
10,5,  7110 

103.  aoi 
102,017 

28.0.59 
12.  0411 
7,511 

7,  auo 

10.270 
14,840  ! 

/ao,it.54 

/19,  2IHI 


Kill.'il 
at  f*i'a. 


10,911 

5.  aao 
5. 220 
5. 87a 
5.  oaa 

5.515 
5.  210 
5,  .544 
8,  557 
8,418 
111,382 
15.  551 
10,  ■•..57 
10,971 

2a,  mil 

28,  494 

an.  028 
20.  180 
2».  858 
40,814 
59.  ,508 
4«,  042 
ao.  812 
01.838 
.50.  291 
43.917 
24,321 


a  Tlii>s«  licnri's  riMi'r  to  tlii>  liaiilini;  (jroiiiiil.i  nl  .st    raiil. 

h  'riu>Ai«  tntaU  hicludti  all  nialcM  killi'il  for  any  tinrpoNr  on  tlii>  hUiiiU. 

r  III  1870  tlio  klllini:  wan  Ih>^uii  al  an  iinii'^iiiil  natr.  .'«ajil  In  lio  011  arcitiiiil  of  an  i*Ki'Hptlniial1y  lali* 


iMJliiHi'il  liy  oi'iliM*  of  till'  a::('iit  in  charui-. 
r  Vt^nrrt  of  tlio  inndiM  vixi'iitli. 


HliUll 
IM'tM'lMlillg 


./"'I'liPNO  tlguri'i*  an  oriuiiially  jiiiIiHsImmI  (28.',MU  anil  2li.89ii)  in  an  a|i)M<ii(lJ\   to  Ilit*  r**iMirt  of  tlit-  fur  ?*oiil  ronftTPiici'  hit 
tlv  ill  error  Iniaiixu  of  coiifusioii  iiHiilliiii;  Iroiii  an  rlVorl  lo  rliininati'  crrtjiin  foml  »kiiiH  lakiii  in  tin'  fall  of  tlir  vi  Mr 


NOIKS   ON    I  llRKIilllMi     lAIII.K, 


1.  The  fiutiips  ri'lVr  to  the  I'ribiUil"  litTil, 

2.  The  ilntrw  fjivon  tor  the  tilliiij;  of  thi-  i|iiota  rrl'er  only  to  St.  I'aiil  Isliiiiil.     'rim  huiiii'  ih  tr f 

thi>  iliitit  ro<;!iriliiiK  thf  iiiiiiibrr  of  ilrivcH  niiil  hanlino  ^ioiiiiiIk, 

It.  'I'lio  totiil.s  for  hind  killiii);  leprcHriit  all  iiiiiU's  Uilleil  for  ;iiiy  piiriioso  — the  tilling'  of  tin-  i|iiot!i 
iinil  the  supplying  of  fooil  for  the  niitivrs.  Thry  thrrcfore  inrliiih'  pnpH  iiiiil  smils  wIioko  .skins  were 
rcjcrtnl  liociiiiso  .ttii;;y  or  othcrvviHo  iinsiiitiilil.'.  The  tijjiircs  urr  tiiken  from  tlie  list  of  il.-iily  killiii;;s  ' 
pri'|>itn>il  liy  (Colonel  Miirniy,  niiil.  in  in  ronhinci!  with  the  niotlioil  uilopti'il  liy  him,  tlicy  hegin  iiiiil  riiil 
\vith  .liinnary  instoail  of  with  AiikhsI,  the  date  nt  whirli  the  quota  is  ht'gnn  iinil  emli-d. 

4.  Tlie  totals  for  thr  pchi^ic  rutrli  urr  taken  from  the  stiitistirul  tallies  -  puhliHlieit  liy  thi> 
Trt'iiHury  lirpartinciit  for  IMIKi, 

.">.  'I'ho  latri' date  iit  \vliiih  tlio  (|ii(itii  wiis  lillrd  in  1X7I-1S7;1  is  di'c  to  the  fact  that  in  tliesc  years 
part  of  thr  quota  was  taken  tlie  pin  nlinn  fall.  After  lH!t;t  the  re;;ular  driving  for  the  quota  was  all 
done  in  .lime  and  .Inly, 

ll.  rroni  the  1(1^  of  the  isliiiuls  it  would  appear  that  the  sea.son  of  IMTii  was  a  ]ieciiliar  one,  the 
movements  of  the  animals  lieinj;  some  two  or  three  weeks  hehiiid  that  of  prei-edinj;  years. 

7.  The  rontraitioii  in  the  killinj;  mi  land  in  1M76-77  and  1S82-S;!  was  voluntary  on  the  part  of 
the  lessees. 

t<.  Ill  lS!ll-lWtH  liiiul  killinj?  was  limited  under  the  modus  viveiidi.  lleriiiK  Sea  \vas  eloseil  for 
the  same  reason  in  18!12-!1|{.  hut  peluoie  Healin;;  went  on  olf  the  Northwi'st  Coast, 

i).  The  tlriving  for  the  year  \X'M  wiis  closed  on  .July  20  by  order  of  the  Department. 


'  I'lilillslied  to  IS!(0  ill  .Senate  Do.-,  i;t7,  IW."".. 

••  I'lir-seal  iiiteli,  season  of  IX'Mt.     Treas.  Dept.  Doe.  I!t32,  1«97. 


rjr 


♦II 


*w  ? 


212 


THK    VVK   HKAL8    nv   THE    rRIIULOF    ISLANDS. 


Ihiihf  couniH  of  loirs. 


Xote:  ThoMf  (•(iiiiitjt  sliow  cli'iiiiy  tlic  kcihIiiiiI  ilnveli>iiiiii<nl  oC  iixiker.v  |Mi]tiil!itii>ii  iliiriiiK  tbo 
lirettiliiiK  HiMiMiiii.  riit>  I'DWH  lie-in  ti>  iirrivr  nlioiit  the  ll^tli  of  .liiiio.  Tlit'  iiiitxiiiiniii  of  |iii|iiilutioii  Ih 
reii('h<-<l  iilioiil  .Inly  l.'i,  rroiii  which  *tiinf  on  thcro  In  i\  ki'"*'''"'  ilt'iriMHO  of  popiiliition  <liio  to  thu 
longthuiiiiiK  tilmunco  nf  the  vown  uii  tbt'ii'  food  cxcnrBJoUM. 


'  ""•  iiiTneiit.  'I 

A  mtthithfatfr  of  Kilovi. 

.lime  I'J 0 

i;t 0 

\i !  ij 

I.I 1  J  I 

IB i  :i 

17 !  4  I 

18 « 

19 1  7 

•.•0 !  8 

21 9 

n "j;! 

2a :i7 

24 ,  45 

2.'>... M 

•» 711 

27 105 

28 l;i7  . 

2I» Itig 

ao 210 

Julv     1 240 

2 -.MX) 

a ao2 

4 414 

5 499 

n .'■■18 

7 .V.O 

8 5K.'. 

9 '5X7 

10 (1(111 

U 7oa 

J2 

Ill (ru 

14 .1.1(1 

15 To:i 

18 mx 

17 HltH 

18 .>•.«« 

w .we 

2IP 420 

21 .'i28 

22 4in 

2a 481) 

24 4(i5 

25 42(1 

28 4(ia 

27 4(K) 

28 304 

29 414 

80 427 

31 :i75 

liecnril  i>f  harrmit, 

JlUH'  14 1 

20 a 

ao 10 

.liilv    H :i.-. 


liffnrd 
■Inly   13 

>fhi 

l>nf<-. 

t'rf/itf— (^'tllltilllllMl. 

Ciiwn 
lirimmit. 

46 

25... 

53 

; 

Jiin«  12  .. 

.iikaiiin  I'vukfrft. 

I 

13 

14  

3 

5 

6 

II 

19 

2S 

37 

hi 

74 

103 

131 

176 

2117 

257 

15      

16  

17  

IH 

11) 

20 

•11 

22 

23 

24 

25 

'JO  

27  

28  

29 

ao 

nas 

.IlllV      1 

2 

880 

:t    

939 

4 

1,197 
1,264 
1,371 
1,531 
'I..54I 
l,«8il 
1,75.'> 

(1  

7 

H                    ... 

U  

Ill     

11   

12 

lit \.:. 

15   

1,841 
306 

14' 

15 

327 
325 

16 

17 

18 

228 

Ill 

20 

214 

21 

215 

22 

219 

'a    

212 

24 

25  

I8H 

Jfl 

oy 

157 

2S  .. 

177 

29... 

149 

ao... 

127 

ai... 

124 

<  WentliiT clfliir:  no  Htnniin  or  mirl'.  nxiept  one  ila.v  nlieii  rain  fell.  canHhiK  ii  larger  iiiiMilH<r  of  iiiwn  to  take  tii  the 
water  luiil  making  it  ditfinilt  tuilixtiii^iniHli  tliime  iireaent  I'rniii  tlie  lockit. 

'Kain. 

'After  .Iill.v  14  it  liei'iiiiic  iniiKmsilili'.  mi  aci'oiint  nl'  the  Hiatterinu  nl'  tlie  iiiws,  tn  iniiliiiiii'  tlii'  riiiint  t'lir  tli Hire 

riMiker.v  withoiit  too  ^reut  loss  of  time,  anil  »"  a  Heitinn  iif  18  iiareniH  «■«.•<  HiiiKleil  mit  anil  tlii'  iniiiit  rnntiniu'il  on  it. 


BIWW^'  ■ 


KKBI'.DINO    8KAI.S    AND    1>KA1)    I'l'I'H. 


213 


iiK  tbo 

itioii  iH 

to  tbu 


Cinuimrutin   ceiiHiiM,  ISIttl-'t; . 

Note:  'I'lieHK  l))(iir<tH  r<>|)i'Hn«iit  in  ilutiiil  tlit-  liniil  vNtiiiiiitiii  ol'tlio  CiiiiiiiiiiiHioii  iin  to  tlic  iiiiiiilirr  of 
brrmliuK  srals  mi  tlic  roiikuricH  of  tln'  rriliilul'  InIiiiiiIh  for  tbi;  hcuhoiim  in  (|iii>Htioii. 


Untlkd  ^ 


KiUivi 

IiHgdon 

riiiiiviiiu  I'liirH.. 

Ziiiiailiii  lice  I' ... 

I.iikiiiiiii   

TnUtuI  

/.Bpiiiliii 

UttlK/upiDllll.. 
(iOI'llUtcIl 

AnligiiKii 

Keef 

Slviitili 

I'uliiviim 

I.lltin  Puliivtiui  . 

\'tlHtlH'lllli 

Miirluii 


'I'liliil 


Xorlli 

UttleKaitt    .. 

K««t 

Zapadiii 

Htai'itya  Artel. 


Total 


St.  Paul... 
St.  tifiir(;t* 


ST.   CIKIIHIIK. 


Ki';!  Aiini.Min.v. 


IMHi  ID'llnlxli. 

18117 

llaroiiiH. 

('<>»«. 

lliirviiin. 

I'llWd. 

IM 

tl.04» 

1711 

r..  2MII 

I'.ti 

-.'.  484 

115 

'.'.  .'418 

Mil 

•2. 4IMI 

HI 

■J,  L'llO 

i;ti 

:i.  twi 

114 

.1    Mil 

n; 

4,  MK(I 

i:ili 

4,  l(Kl 

4«7 

I.'..5<I4 

;iiu 

ii..'ii»:i 

:<w 

IH.  Il'.'7 

458 

\:i.:>]] 

'Id 

l,.'iH4 

170 

.V  HI'.' 

,»« 

III.II2A 

:i(m 

1),  U8)! 

U7 

HIHI 

:i;t 

7:i<i 

.-.01 

111.  7;fJ 

4.-.4 

i:i.:i»;i 

10.') 

:i.  4HII 

lO'J 

il.lMJ!! 

I.'i.'! 

.').  II7U 

u:i 

4,'JI8 

-IS 

I.4U4   1 

41) 

1,  INII 

»78 

:12,  :i70 

UKl 

I'll  84,1 

SKI 

B,  7'.'7 

•j;i:i 

(1.  87.1 

4.  :i;is 


1U7,6WI 


:i.  858 


liranil  totitl 


R»7 


4.3:15 


4,»;i-' 


19,7litl 


!»,  "(HI 


1.-.7  405 


BttU 


n,gS8 

.'itMl 


112.804 


•.'(10 

ti.fUII 

llHi 

:..  782 

44 

I.:i5ii 

411 

1    IVii 

i:i5 

4,  48Z 

Via 

;i.  77ii 

143 

4,747 

i:i;i 

;i,  92 1 

75 

2.  418) 

57 

1,(181 

Iti,  :i52 


n2,8IV4 

III.  :i.''.2 


4.41s 


I'.'tl  LMO 


i'ltp  xtatiHticK,  1S9() — Snmmnrn. 

N'oti!:  Tlio  il)-u(l  liuilieK  of  |iii|is  woi'o  oriuiimlly  (.'oiiiili'il  in  August,  Tlii-si<  together  \Nitli  llie 
acc('8Niou8  tbroiiKh  Htnrv;itii>n  uorr  rfcuiiiitti'  in  Octolior,  tliu  t-arlier  coiintM  bi-ing  (b-dnrtcil  to 
iletorniine  the  number  Htarvoil.  .\h  thtt  pi-rioii  ..i  Htiirvatiiui  wuh  not  yot  I'onipietetl,  a  fonnt  of  tlio8i' 
plainly  dyiiiK  was  inaitu,  luul  thuso  are  ileHitfiiutcil  u.s  "  slMrving." 


CA  to  tho 


III'  t'litiro 
it. 


liwiker.v. 


ST.  I'.MI.   ISLAND. 


I>MWl. 


KItnvi... 
Liikuniii . 
Laeiwn  . . 

•rlJ-tni 


I..I 


l.ii.'le  /apiuliil 
/.iipailiii  liirl'.. 

tHirtiBt(;li 

.\riliKii«ii 

Utif . 


SIviitch  JJiM-k... 

I'oloviua 

I.ittli'  roloviiia  . 

Vl'HllM^hul 

.Miii'.iovi 


UllHl. 

lli'lolM.r. 

IIHI 

lUHl 

'Jii5 

.-.711 

"S 

:tlli 

1.895 

•J.  44lt 

;i.  Ii»5 

4,  3».-. 

i:i4 

Il!):i 

1114 

IfJ" 

712 

LSTi* 

'► 

78 

il.-.0 

•J,  780 

•111 

281 

ii:|j 

1,.Vm 

47 

III! 

I.81IS 

:i.:ii3 

48.'> 

'.l.-.() 

Starvt'il,    Klarvlnu.  ' 


Total 

<  .Aililitioii  of  211  per  nil  I  Im  loss  lit-twri'ii  .\ii|;iiHt  aiiiHIctn-  1 

iMTt'OUtltS 

Starving  pupa  to  li»  aiMi'tl  n-<  htiirvi-tl 

Aililitiiiu  tor  IkmUi'.*  laki'ii  tnr  ilisMevtiou 


211.  ».'ll 


.'lOO 

42 

a74 

27 

2:18 

51 

-.54 

191 

1  :u»i 

154 

.'.Ml 

lU 

■.".':i 

18 

1 ,  liai 

126 

7li 

8 

1  s:iii 

HlHI 

■su 

III 

(I'.'U 

55 

72 

22 

1..VJ5 

:i2!i 

445 

1011 

10.  U22 

1.  .527 

■J,  0(11 

I   .527 
I. 'ill 


'I'liiiil  Htarvi'il 


n,7i)(t 


'Till'  cHthiiatHof  21)  iier  ci'iit  lii'io  iiiiiilit  lor  tli«  ilisapp(>ai'aiii;ii  ol'i'iirraHaiM  lii'tui'Mii  .\iii;iisl  and  (IrlolHT  i^  shown  lij 
tliiM'^pi  rii'iirdsol'  1897  to  bean  uiiili'i'i'r<liinal«.     l-'ill.v  pi  r  ccmI  wonlil  liuvi-  lii-t'ii  iiianr  tin'  l:ii!l. 


Ml 


214 


THK    Kl'R    SKAL8   OK   TIIK    I'KIIIIl.OK    ISLANDS. 
I'lijt  nlotixtirM,  /.\'/^ — iSidiiimtry — Coiitiiiiie<l. 


llOJIll. 


I 


HiMiki'ry. 


AllUIIHl.      Oi  IlllllT. 


SlRrviil.    SliirvliiK, 


HT.  IIKOKHK  INI.ANII. 


Norlli 

Hliiliivii  Ariel. 

/upiHliil 

KlIMl 

I.ittll'  I'llNl    .... 


i:iri 
l!ltl 

ill 


U5 

m 

i.'i 
It) 


T..1111 

Sliii'\  iii^  |Mi|»H  uiIiIimI  IIH  HtHrVIHi. 


HII7 


•J.'..l 

1117 

i.'ll 

'•J/J4II 

1 1) 


7    ! 

:i    ; 

4     ' 
4 

I 
1» 


T.llHl 

tininil  totiil  InrlHitli  InIiiihIn 


ii.oiri 


a.'.'Wi 

21, '.'•.'«         1(1,  dill 


i.r>4ii 


'  The  II^MrfH  herein  uiM'ii  Inr  Ntiirveil  )tM|iH  011  the  rtMikerieN  uf  SI.  (ieer^e  an-  eMtliinileH  IniMeil  iipoii  tin*  etiiHlilhiiiM 
III'  SI.  I'liiil.  The  rii\e.>«  hail  tialeii  nnl  iiiil\'  Ihe  eai'inHNes  iil'  I  he  earUet'  ih'Uii  imijih  on  SI,  lieoi-^e,  hiii  alno  iIiiiho  hI'  lliu 
Hiarveil  |iM|in, 

JJeail  piipH  hejhtr  A  ay  nut  ]ii,  JHHII-1S9T, 


Hiinkerx . 


IMM.  1887. 


KItovl 

l.auiHin 

I.iikiiiilli 

Tulstoi 

/.a|ia<liii 

Littlii  /aiiHilnl  . 
/apailiii  Kver  . . 

Gorhateh 

Arilicueii 

Keel 

HIviileli  KiK'k  . . 

rohiviiia 

Litiht  I'ulovina. 

VontiH'hill 

Mui'Jiivi 


100 

••(12 

•l< 

7(1 

'ja-i 

'J.V.' 

l.8U.'i 

1  .-lOJ 

:i,  ow 

»(Wil 

1:14 

{'1 

1114 

7u 

71 J 

.'WJ 

Q 

10 

I)5U 

042 

SO 

(»l 

ICl-i 

(') 

47 

l») 

I.HIIR 

(») 

4K.'> 

{') 

Tiitiil. 


ST.  iiKiiliiii-:. 


Xnrth 

Ultle  KaHt. 
KhsI 


/apMiliii 

Slarava  Artel . 


10,  SOU 


•.',19 
III 
III' 
lOil 


,  IMU 


344  I 

34  j 

Oil  1 

112  I 

75  I 


Total 

tirniiil  tiital . 


-im 

11.045 


MX 


'(liilv  Ihe  Hand  Hal  wax  onniiteil,  on  wliieli  were  1.4U,'i  |iiii>n  in  IDUQ, 
'Dnlv  the  uiillv  known  as  the  "iluath  trap"  wita  louuteii. 
•NutcuuntniliulttUi. 


=^--~.--!!t-at-7 


I'KLA<ilC    HKAl.IMI 


215 


I'KLAiJlC  HI'.AMNd  rAT(MIKS.   |x!t|-lWt7, 

Note:  'I'lio  ilotuilril  iiitnhi'H  iil'  tin-  Aiiittri(Miii  iiiiil  raiiiiiliiiii  HouliiiK  iIitIh  I'ur  tlio  )ii'i'iiMl  is'M  Ix^iV 
iirt'  liiTv  giviMi  to  illimlrikUt  t\w  aliiti-iice  ul'  liriiitlii'lul  ull'itrt  from  tlix  ri>k(iiliitioiiH  nl'  tlit*  I'liriM  Awanl 
iindi'i'  which  tho  (icUiuio  Mfaliii^  iiiiliistry  hiiH  hiM'ii  coiKliirtoil  niiu'r  IKIM,  itinl  liiiiditiitallv  to  xhow  Ihn 
thii'liiii'  ul  thr  hi-rti  UN  iiiitiiil'imt  in  thi>  iIitIIiiIii);  ciiti'h.  Thi'  httter  fai't  taken  in  I'uiinectioii  with  tli« 
(liliiiiilNhiliK  lleet  Hhows  the  ui'o\viii)(  iin|irolltahli<tii'HM  of  th«  iiula^'lr  iniliiMtry. 

I'm -Ul  III  riilih  ol'  .tmrrhiin  ri'inehfur  IS!ti,> 

I  I'ri'liuri'il  liy  A   II.  Alixuiiilirl 


niUlioim 
«  nf  tim 


V.»r"l. 


Allon 

Ali'luiiili'i' 

Auui'oiiilti 

Aniiii  Mutilihi  . 
AlliK  I.  Alitiir.. 

Uimun/.u 

itowbxiul 

(■.(i.  Willi.. .... 

Kmiuaniiil  I.imiIi 
Kiiiiiiii  . 


KnpiiiKi'i' 

KilHuril  K.  Wi'lmliT. 


EllllilollllMDIt. 

Ktliiil 

Iie<>.  I'oaliiHlv 

(ieo.  It.  Willi.'' 

II.C.  WulillMirg 

Ileiiry  UviinlH 

Ilcniliiii 

I.lu  Ktta 

■Inn.'  limy 

Kul.i  amrAiiim 

I^rflUlH  1) 

L.MiiiiOlaen 

tmicL 

i1i>i*ii|>liliie 

Mary  1(.  TlioiiiaM  ■ . . . 

Maa.Mit* 

MattloT.  Dyer 

Miilliew 'riirUHr"  — 

l'eiiel.ip» 

I'r.'H.'ott 

Itetriivcr 

Italtl.T 

Uimie  SparkH 

St.  I'niil 

So|ililoSiillii-rliinil  .. 

San  DieKo* 

Stella  Krlan.l 

Teri'gn 

Voliinl.'er 

WIllnrdAliiHWortli  . 

\Vinrli«gl»r 

Amat.'iir' 

t'oluiiilila* 

C.C.  I'lTkniM'' 

Ueealikii' 

Dart" 

F.!llt7.« 

Jsni.'S  CSwan" 

Puritan" 


'lulal 


iSi'iiiit.<  l).ii'.  i:i7.  IgB.'i. 

'''riii.i  \.mHfl  lia.l  not  \et  rfliinic.l. 

>l..mt:  niiiiilifr  III' Hktii!<  ucil  kiinwn. 


:  N»»rlli«."«( 
.■.lanl. 


.laiuiii 

milNl. 


l,IH.'i 
Kid 

.■IU7 
7H5 
1,305 
l.71!4 
1,407 
(Kill 
1,111(1 


Ciiiini  T 
Nliin.l 


lli'ilnu 


I.UHIl 
I,  lt.'ill 


•j:il 


l-JI 


:i2)l 

H.Vi 
OIM 


t.  1&5 
672 

i.mio 

1, 107 

r>04 
ir>o 


5:ir. 

H57 
«M 
32,'. 
8:i7 
1,04)1 
fill 

1,7SH 

IIIHI 


1011 


rti:i 

l.liOti 


22,''. 
S84 

45 
4U0 

20 
100 
0(111 
IMO 


324 


102 
IIHl 

mo 


201 


2, 052 


31.  376 


1,771 


327 


t,2l4 


7:ifl 


107 


7111 

:)IK 


403 

1,023 

..till. 


,11*5 

810    I 

307 

7K5 
,722    ! 
.  724 
,4(17 

030 
,  IflO 
00 
,  OMI 
.  tUMI  I 
,214 
5    I 

231     i 
110 

320    I 

mil     I 
,  202     I 

HI12    I 
,  20:i     i 

0K7 

lil.'i 
,2M1 

07M 

i:>u  I 


•  I.IWI ;  .'>3,')  Hkiii.'.  Ijik.'n.  1111111' HaVBil. 
^  LiiMt :  skiiH  ii.it  Niivett. 
'Iii'lhinH  Iniin  N'i'iili  llav. 


535 
l.VJ 
H,'i7 
O.'iO 
42T 
40K 
155 
fiI7 
30 
78« 
OIKI 
701 
(KM 
1.  y 

094 
60A 
225 
!I67 

45 
42:i 

29 
100 
0(NI 
ISO 


5.201       41,000 


2h; 


THI'.    FIR    HEALS    Ol'    THK    I'lMKIhOK    ISLANDS. 


I'  i 


•SI 

!! 


VfSMI'lH. 


KiilcrprUr  

KiMir  <M8«'ii 

I'liiliriiia 

Oscai'  mill  llHdiu  . . 

Iliaiiii  

Iti-i'iitlii 

A  rid  in 

CnMi  ti 

Itiiru  Siowrril 

Wiiller  A.  Kaili'    .. 

Fawn 

AuiM'H  Miiodoiiald  . 

W,  I'.  Ilnll 

Mi'riiiaii)  

('it\  III' San  Ok'irii.. 

Marv  Tayliir 

I.ilil'iiH 

Mav  llilli' 

Mary  Kll.Mi 

Viva  

W.  I'.  Savwanl  — 

I'l'IH'lopi*  

Vera 

Ciriiilta  (!.  I'lix 

'friiinipli 

(Itio 

K.  11.  Maivlii 

Sa|ipliiri'  

Annii>  IC.  I'aint 

tixDKVn 

Tnrean 

Sailii'Tiiipi'l 

iLunn  Ill-lie 

Muiiil  S 

jViirorii 

ITiiirpnie  M.Smith 
Itnnlrirc 

.MMHI-Ot 

;ttiviiriti- 

.tatnid  I'.  MiMii'p 

imdiir 


I'ui-ntal  nmlrli  it/'  (  aiiaidaii  '  ntw/n  /'or  !Sli-l.' 

I  Fritlii  <itlirlal  Miiliri'*-'* 
'  '        (jniw«.  I  'atrli. 


TOIIH 


:iii 
wi 

Ml 

i:.ii 

tlHI 

M 
tl:i 
24 
HH 
ISII 
107 

m 

7:1 
-lli 
4:1 

»:i 

.'iH 
11:1 
111! 
I^il 
711 

mi 

7(i 
US 
Mil 
till 
IIIU 
MJ 
!»'J 

ii:i 
.".(I 
k:i 
11" 
41 
llll 
lili 
411 
IMI 
1:1 


WlMu. 

luli- 
mw. 

llrilisli 
4'uliiiii 

Ilia 
rlHtHi . 

J5 

in 

It) 

•X 

•2S 

•20 

li 
•.Ml 

211 

|M 



•J4 

a 

1 

16 

in 
22 

14 

211 

20 

211 

20 

ID 

■      1 

24 

K 

:iii 

l.TJO 

2:1 

H 
2ti 

;i2 

fillS 

27 

2.'i 

22 

24 

IH 

4 

22 

M 

;i5« 

■'^"  ( >■ 

*'*'        1  Miami. 


1 .  2W 

1 .  U4;i 

2.  .'idH 
i,7;i:i 
i.tiii 
2  :w:; 

1,  lit: 
i.iniB 

2.  .'>»>4 
1.471 

1)11 

1,707 

710 

l,6o:i 

i.:i04 

«74 
1.010 

tt25 
I.INII) 
1. 4:17 

606 
1.306 
1.075 
1,047 


llpi  in^  .SiMi. 
Malr.      I'l'iiiali- 


1114     . 

' 

■ 

l.-i;l 
176 

42.-. 
:io 

4:11 

■M 

4:1:1    . 

;i4:i  . 

'  ;i«' 

r.2 

Itlll 


471 


250 
250 

2lHI 

D07 
HO 


111.'. 


a.'. 

2I«H 


I. (114 
2.118 


623 


1.4B7 

1.01)2 

1   102 

.7H3 

KlU 
1,34:) 

09.1 


Ml 

.'..•.« 

12(1 

171 

274 

KO 

21 

HI 


80 

i.iki 


1 ,  220 


.'.17 
:i9ll 


I  If. 

:.o7" 


«7i) 


>,StiiHt*»  liM!.  i;i7.  IHU,'.. 


Ti.lal 


1 .  .''iliM 
1.8V0 

2.  801 
I. DOS 

2.  ;t»4 

2,  726 
1.288 
l,U2U 
2,  IW4 
2.  143 
1.5^7 
2,  178 
710 
2, 108 
1,554 
1.124 
1.210 

1.  122 

2,  4.V.> 
1.4:17 

041 
1  0"2 


1 .  270 
1,047 
4  .■.fl.i 
I  0:17 
2.118 
040 
028 


I .  O-'iO 


l'Ri,A(iU'    .SEALING 


217 


t'lilrli  of  .liiiericau  resuc/n  eiiijaiiitl  in  iirltujii   Htalimi  (liiriiiij  the  miiHon  of  ISIi.'t 


•lu|iiin       liiiaaiiiii     Aiiii'riiaii       llcrint:       ... 


Ull. 


,: 


.1.  K|i|)iii)ji'r... 

Iloniiuii    

K.  10.  WibHicr. 
.Mton. 


.MaltiuT.  IKiT 

Kii-.iiia  and  Louisa 

llimniizii 

lliiwliciiil 

WinrlieHti'r 

Sopliiii  .Siitliirliiiiil 

C'oliiiii1)ia 

.Iaiii«»(i.  Swim 

SD'llitKrIiiiiil 

riii'iiaii 

'IVazer 

AiiKHHt  ■ 
Matilda. 


('.('.  IVrl{iim. 
Kluie 


Ht^Dii;;  S*'i 


Ui'vidikH  . 
Kiiinii't.  I''«lilz. 

Idl.T. 


»i<' 


i;.  En-Ht 

Ivatoand  Aiinu 

Qeni'uo  \V.  I'reHcoll. 

.\lliiil.  AlRar 

ItHltler 

•I  ami  (i  ray 
'IVr 


6117 
TliO 


02fl 


iK> 


I.IKU 

5711 

1.112 


i'r«»a  . 


W.  AiiiHwnrtli , 
M.M.  Mori  ill.. 
LoiiiH  Olaeu  . 
M«  Kita 


I.IHI) 
Stfl 
6tlli 
574 


Total 


111.  HI7 


149 


1(12 


185 


61 


4M 


l.'J.'iO 


■.'.  2011 


'  lli'imrt  "f  SiM-ri'tiirv  <il  Tri'iixniv.  ISd.'i  pi..  ci.x.M  II 


142 


.107 
2X9 


2:i2    

14    

224 
165 
1(1    .. 

5(4 

1.IIK4 

(1711 

K7    

Ci    . 

:i."i   

;U    

2(IH    

IHO 
H2 
49    .. 

OKI 
592 

41    

24    

Oil    

:im   

:i2« 

1U',I 
172 


4211 
4411 

■.W.i 

;i4U 


Fiir'Wal  riitrli  ul'  Caiiadiiiii  leaneli  for  ls9.'> 


Tons. 


(Iicw. 


(JatiOi. 


Uitl'iliK  Svii. 


.\siioa  Mi'Donnld  — 

Alii.ikci 

Amateur 

A  unit.  ('.  M(M»n' 

Aiiiiir  V.  I'aiiit 

AriMtis 

.Viircira 

Hnatriri'  c^liaiigliai). 
lii'atrii'H  (Vaiiioiivrr) 

UorvaliH 

Ili'OiicIa 

('  1).  KuimI 

O.iriiilt'i  (i.t.'iix 

( 'awa 

City  San  l>ici{ii 

Uliina     

lliii'iliir 

Ilnra8i««unl 

K.  It.  Marvin 

lOuttTiniMa 

Kavuriti'    


Kuwii . 


.a 

1 

9 

* 

z 

71 

3s 

'u'~ 

"5 

7- 

n 

11)7 

28 

14 

8 

- 

711 

5ii;i 

OIUI 

1.97:1 

75 

1 

20 

.> 

i:i 

;i25  . 

4711 

515 

l.:il!i 

18 

o 

14 

7 

05    . 

05 

ii:i 

8  ■ 

:iu 

.» 

1,-. 

1115    . 

7aii 

812 

1,047 

82 

211 

8 

1. 121 

i:in 

nil 

575 

2.  022 

811 

5 
Vl 

28 

r 
•J 

1 
0 
(1 

H8II 

42(1 

18I; 

I'll  18 

'.1:1 
96 

"".VJ7 
8:iK 
IWI 
(Ml 

1.  I116 

41 

11 

14 

1118    . 
2:10    . 

8il 

6(t 

1 

i  0711 

411 

21)2 

:i7 

8111 

no 

1.048 

881 

182    ' 
170 

"459 
149 

881 

51 

7 
2(1 

16 

8 

8 

14:1  1. 

784 

76 

920 

a 

1.507 

(Kl 

19 

(1 

I.IIIHI 

:v,\ 

1 .  0.'i» 

4(1 

17 

s 



ajo 

243 

01  ;i 

50 

19 

2j 
7 

':ifl 

0 

2 

«2 

71 

:'li7 
7BC. 

1)1111 
8IU 

1,  164 

87 

C88 

iia 

18 

rm 

.■  082 

Mi 

27 

8 

940 

lU 

i2."i 

2.-il 

I..I32 

09 

7 

nil 

*J 

15 

m  ■ 

947 

7j<2 

1 . 9.50 

hll 

5 

:iii 

1 

18 

ts«  . 

1 

927 

72" 

1.797 

5lt 

0 

28 

1 

14 

241 

4011 

:il« 

1.024 

'  AnuuttI  lleiHU't  l)e|iai'lini'iil  Mariiii'  ami  Kihlivrim.  Caiiadiaii  •liivirnuiDnl.  1895. 


218 


THK    Fl'R    SEALS    OP   THE    I'UIHILOK    ISLANDS 

Fiir-Hi III  fall h  i>l'  l  nnntlian  rogih  tor  ts'.i:, — ('itiitiuili'il. 


V»'rtM'l. 


KiMlii'C  Muid 

FlorciM-f  M.  Siiiilli . . 

Korlmiti 

<  ifiii'N  a 

llrMlii'ltU 

Kuli-      

Kiitlx'riiio 

Kiliiii'iiy 

Kil)nMtll>l' 

Lililiif    

M.ir.v  Klliii 

Mjir>    l'ii>  \\-f  

MllHI'tlt    

MiiimI  S    

M.iv  liilli' 

Mcniiuid   

Miiinii- 

MtMMihiin  ('li)i-t' 

OcM-aii  liellK 

OMai'  mill  lliiltii^    .. 

(Mill    

I'lirhwi'liis 

rrllrln|ir , 

l>iiilll'i-i-     

liimiii  IMhuII 

Sailiii  'liiri'i'l 

Sappliin'   

SiMi  ilimr 

Saiii'v   Liiss 

Slirlii\ 

SiMith'  lliiiiil 

Ti'ti'sji    

'l'l'IUIII|l)l    

1  I'lirjiiii 

\"i'ni 

Vii  toriii 

\\\:\    

Waltiv  I,.  Ilii'li  .... 

WaiiiliTor 

Indiuii  raiiutrH  ratrli 

Tulnl 


'rmiH. 


•J  I 

!l!t 
117 
III! 

;ii 

M 
HI 

IH 

a:. 
If.' 

4:1 
411 

!I7 

w 
7:1 

4« 

n 

Ki 
Ml 
III 
lilt 
(Ul 

:i9 

Titl 


<  '11' vv. 


.t:         * 


u 
•.1> 


:i 
4 

III 
IH 


'J  I 


•a 
II 


i!t 


41 


'.'I 

K 
II 
•21 


111 

:i2 

•JH 

in 
l« 

•J4 

:i2 
u 
:!4 


lOH 

8 

;)7 

:il 

r» 

211 

:iH 

11 

21 

10 

It) 

•Jl 

4 

III 

03 

H 

17 

118 

K 

4:1 

»ll 

■i:> 

HU 

III 

K\ 

1 

2r> 

92 

211 

7« 

It 

24 

■a 

2 

lU 

l-.„ 


I'alrli. 


4 

III 
II 
4 

li 

n 
ill 


III 
1:1 


12 


III 
111 

III 

4 

II 
III 


12 
12 


imi 

285 


181 
1 50 


2:14 
:iiiu 


287 
234 


147 

2H5 


1'.I2 
147 


124 


1112 
3.'i:i 


187 

:i,787' 


^  Itrriiltr  Sl'U. 


219 
1,137 


8ri4 

787 


l.ilili 


1,187 
85:1 


601 


470 


,^62 
311 


84.'i         7!«l 

(127    

798         4711 


,''■(13 


Il.'i2 
132 


827 
318 
'.'Mil 


177 

(im 


(I7H 
2riU 


."iH4 


4.'i       \m 

2711  .•194 

288  4113 


7fl             183 

451        1  IIIU 

HID           Mfill 

434    

1118  rjll           223 

7.'iO           (142 

437           (176 

1.113         7.->3    

;!li(l          393  I 


■| 


515 
304 


.'•32  I 


IIS« 
2.'il 
432 


37  111 

33.'i  532 

8112  9!I5 


272 
.'■(HI 


.'>34 
97 


KM) 
1,443 
219 
I,«i)7 
2(11 
854 
850 

ir. 

310 
1,701 
I.Jlli 

803 

1 ,  304 
l,(17!l 
1.347 

1, 8im 

(159 

3» 

1,618 

1.314 

1,111 

IM) 

770 

1,035 

(127 

1,218 

1.975 

710 

958 

124 

148 

9(iU 

2,  210 
1.749 
1.317 
1,3.54 

wm 

1,,1.57 

35'; 

:i.  787 


3.892     705     8M     210     421     9,863     18.687     0.281      15.949     19.  !NI9       70,739 


PELA(JFC   SEALING. 

/•'hi-  teal  lali'h  for  /,V,'*«.' 
AMKKIC'AX    VKSSKLS. 


21!> 


Cull  lien. 


\'«HMfl. 


Alton 

Ilri'iiij;  Suii 

<'iiliiriiliiii ...'. 

('.  ('.  I'mkiiiH 

Ooi'iililiM  (lii(Iliiii).. 

KUic 

I^'jilicill 

.1.  Klili.iiBci-.   ..iiii 

.llllic  (iiny 

.lilM.  (;.  Siviiii ' 

tlt^HHlr [ 

Kut«  anil  A  mill    ... 
LiMliNA  II.  . 

M.  M..\iMriii ..;;.; 

I'lirituii  

l'enclo|H' 

Uiiitiir ■; 

•St.  L;iwii-iii,. 

sitkii ;; 

'I'i'ii.ser 

Williii.l  ., iimwiirtiiV 
Iiiiliiin  I'liiioi'x.  I'll  ... 

iHeiiU. 


I'.-HHI'JH. 


Sill  III 

hIMl 

riiiml. 


:iu 

148 


.  .1111 
I  III 

5'.l.-i 


•J4 


.I'.' 

117 


2-.'7 
:i,7U 


<^I|1UII 

lllllt 
KiiHHiiin 


jlli 

ii:i!i 


IMll 


7J4 


LTi? 
03 


•Jii.-i 


4511 


•Ml 


'Sliilislinil  lalili'H,  III 


VfHsll. 


Ill   I  llll'l: 


iMiK'iil    .Vn    |ii:ij    Tri.ii^iirv 

<;.'..v.\hi.vN  \i:.ssi; I.S.I 


4.1U7 
I'i'piirliii 


:i.  son 

I.  1S!I7. 


I'liiiiiiiiiliili'r  siwil 
IhtiI. 


PrliilMl'  „.al  liiTil. 


Alia  

AijniH  .Mi'lliinii.il .    

Arnii'ii.      ....  

Allii'.l.  Aljirr     ..'.[[[.l..]] 

•\nia(i'iir 

Aiiiiir  (;.  .Vimri.....^'.' 

Aiiiiii'  i:.  I  Hint 

.Xrii'lJH 

.\iirora    ] 

lliMililii.  (.ShantihiiV-  .'.y.'. 

llruliiii'  ( ViiiiiiiiiviTi 

Hiin-alin 

I '.D.lianil ;. 

•  'arlnlliKi.  (j„x 

Carriii  ('.  W "" 

('UHt-ll 

<  'il.v  of  San  I)i'«giV  ".'■.; 

Kiana * 

"irnrtui- 

l'ol|ibiii 

l>"r.i  Sir  Weill 

I'liiis 

••:.  II.  .Marvin .'." 

l''avm'it» 

I''mv  ti . . .    '.'.'.". ' '  " 

{•'JHlni-  Maid  (wri'ikiMi) .' 

!•  loivni i>  .\I..Sniiili  .   ..         

Kurt  11  nil 

•  ii'iieva 

Ilia  KIta 

Kal.' "■; 

Kiilliarine(roiiuile"n'(i.'aiW«kini"|",;«t)" 

Klhiiiiny 

I'Uliraili'ii' 

^.ibble 

M»r.v  Kliun 


•lapan 

I'UllHt. 


5J.-1 
'«5ll 


H15 

I.IKU 

tllXI 


\.-:si 


lliiHHJaii 

i-iuinl 


.Siirlli 

Wl  Pl 
I'llllMl  . 


IIKI 

4;ii 


tm 


9i<7 
1,1)78 


sja 


61)2 

5;i7 

4119 
OKI 

'ais 


'.'ll'J 

!l.')^ 


■:.Hl  I 
:iii.'i ' 


i.>i:i 


171 
4,'il 


377 


Nl!4 

a:i 


1»I4 

ioo 

81 

51 12 


ItiTiliy 
Soa 


7l':i 
-■■*? 
i.'m 

411 

1    DhH 

m 

I  I 

K 

;iii.'i 

.'iliU 

ii(i;i 

4IMI  , 


lliTilii; 

Sl'M. 


175 

(i:i7 

404 

r,iir,' 


iiii; 

HL'tl 
ll>U 

•r.i 

I,ll4» 
1114 

"■i7i 


:i7n 
»I8 


:iiW 
Ma 


I'l.lal 


H'.'l 
MII5 
li4H 

;m 
112:1 
u;i5 

34U 

i.:itit 
7:14 
2ia 

1411 
505 

IW5 

UII4 

■J  I 

4IMI 
KM 

H.'iS 

.TJ 
117 
Il2ti 


12.  132 


I'lital. 


I.  IIS 


i.r.iii 
1.11411 

I  472 
4117 
Ul.l 
4.">.'. 
IU2 
561) 

i,4:iii 

) .  (172 
I.IIIU 

«I3 
I.UU2 
l.()7« 
I.  lou 
I  "113 

11(12 
l,»87 
l.H7.'l 
1.114:1 

11:1 

H7:i 

7(W 
USII 

i.u:i:i 

B22 
215 
I  (Ml 
390 
l.(l»5 
536 


'  'riluiiipmin  Kuiiorl,  IHM,  pp.  ;:«.:I7. 


T. 


I 


i  i 


I 


S  I 


'sr 


220 


THE    VVH    SKAl.S    oF    THK    PKIIULOK    ISLANDS. 

I'lir-Heal  aitch   l\ir  !S9<: — ('uiitiiiiUMl. 
(;A.VA1)IAN  VKSSKI.S-CniiliiHi.'.l. 
Coiiiiimnili'i'  nni\ 


Ikm'iI. 


\'l'HHt>l. 


•Iiipai) 

CllllHt. 


KlIHHillll 

eoaxt. 


Priliiluf  seal  Iiki'iI. 


.Nortli 
weHt 
riMiHt. 


'J'otiil, 


Mary  'I'aylur 

Ml.'Ht-Ot 

MttiKl.S 

Mcriiiiiitl 

I    Miiiiiio 

Ui'i'iiii  Hello 

Oacar  hikI  llatliK 

(Ilt(i 

Oeoati  Uuver 

(iKIiify 

Pacliwellin 

l'uiivlii|H'  

Pioneer 

Sadio  Tiirpel 

Sttiiphire 

San  «IoRe(wreeke<l.  4  HkiiiHliiHtl. 

j    Saiiey  Krhh 

I    Seliiiii 

Snulli  lleiul 

Torntia  

Triiiin|ili 

L'liibriita 

Veiituro    

Vera 

Victoria 

Viva  (.seiznl) 

Walter  I..  lUch 

ZillaliMay 

liuliaii  eaiiueM 


;ta;i 

l9-.> 


'.140 

":,M 
Till' 


480 

':')5;i' 


45H 


8U» 

"iS2 


4IK 
471 


:;:il 

Gilt! 
742 


•JO 
41 


r.72 

607' 


164 

'"03 

2,':i53 


Heriiii.' 

Sea. 

1117 

.'.20 

417 

tlOS 

«(12 

002 

:i45 

I.28S 

484 

970 

:ii» 

1100 

.1X11 

1)42 

Tidl 

1.220 

Iill2 

002 

2UII 

200 

1S2 

Wt4 

1,352 

;i7.5 

I.2A8 

281 

803 

1,002 

1,420 

00.-. 

8:1.1 

■,.'i!> 

1.020 

18.-I 

IH5 

33« 

4211 

4K3 

714 

750 

I,:i76 

208 

1,081 

442 

711 

2U4 

83(1 

vol 

1.065 

70 

077 

;iuu 

492 

821 

821 

2. 35:i 

Nixty-ei^lit  veHMeU 


IK.  246 


10,  "o:i         2.'i,  700       ,■>.'..  677 


•SrMMAUY  <ll'  CAN.'  DIAN   VESSKL.S. 

Japan  cua.it 18,  240 

KiiRHiaii  <oa8t 1 , 028 


Coniiiiaiiiler  neiil  lieni I'l.  274 

NortliWiHt  coaat 10,703 

Jleriiit;  Sea 2,1, 700 

I'ribilot' Heal  herd 116,403 

KECAVITII.ATION. 

t'auatlian  veHsulM ,1;'.,  077 

AniHrioaii  voHHelH 12,432 


Tiital     1 6S, ;  1)9 

rela<iicfitr-iie<ilcalt:li  of  Amerivnn  reHm-lx,  tS'JT. 

\*!'HSI'I. 


FiMlier  Ilros 

Kate  anil  Anna  . 

.1.  Kiipiniter 

l.iiiilNa  U 

.las.O  Swan 

('uliiiiilila 

Uwahkn 

W.  AiiiHwiirth  .. 

Beriii);  Sea 

Teaser 

Kalller  

KiBi.' 

St.  l.awrenie 


NorlliweMt 
euaHt. 

llei 
S. 

in;: 
■a. 

Kn^iHian 
1  oaHl. 

Tdtal. 

:i 

:i 

;i2»i 

■'.'(20 

3211 

443 

'1.08,'. 

2H4 

r>6 

^29 
50 
88 

:io 

3KII 



30 
389 

10 

lU 

103 

193 

21.''. 
IWI 

014 

mil 

K38 
H6II 

1,758 

857 

1,275 

4.048 

Total     

I  tn  nililitiiin  to  this  total  for  tim  y.'ar  IHDO  there  wan  a  ealeli  of  2,t>23  nkin.s  niaile  liv  .lapain'se  ve«Bi<ls  on  llie  .VKialir 
«lile. 

'There  wan  u  ililleriim'  of  6  in  tin  rmeli  of  tliis  vi'MBel  l.et«eeti  the  statement  of  the  master  anil  imipeitor  at 
Antoria. 

"The  KppiiiK'T  look  31!)  skinH  all  leoialas  south  of  tin-  awanl  ana  ami  the  I.onisi  1).  i"ok  44.'.  47  nialen  ami  39K 
lemale.1.  iu  the  .same  wutem. 


' 


'9Ih 


PiuIfPIT 

«'.  I).  ICaiiil 

Mary  Kllrn 

Alicip  I.  Al(!iii' .. 

AriHi.i 

Aniatciii' 

KiitrrpiiMi' 

ll.iitii.r 

TerfMii 

Vicloriii 

Mary  'I'liyliir 

K.  I!.  Miirviii 

H'liwii 

Aiiioku 

Duni  SiDweril 

Miiiiiii' 

City  iif  Sim  I>iij.'ii 

Triiitiipli 

Oceiiii  Itfllii 

Kavorilii 

ntio 

I'i'iieli>|'i- 

Sail  in  Turpel 

SappliiT 

ZiMali  ,Iav 

Aiiiiii!  K.  I'aijit.   . 

HoriMiliH 

riiiliriiiii 

ftfernmid  

Cliarlolta  (i.Cox.. 

Vera 

Dirt'ctDr 

<  asiMi 

I.alirndor 

Attni'H  McMmialil  . 

(Inncva 

Finliir  Maiil 

MiMiiilaiii  (Jiilef. . . 

Pailiwollis  

Iiiiliaii  caiioex 


PKLAGIC    SEAMNTi. 

/'eliii/ir  lin-sml  ralrh  .;/'  Iniiiiilhiii  irHsrls,  /Sfr. 


•J21 


\"l'MMfl, 


NorlliwiHl 
I'OHHt,      I 

I 

mm 

1117 

L'll 
IIS 


51 
1117 

101 

III 

•-'Oil 

1117 

"m 
III) 

"»« 

IA4 
71 


IDI 
172 


4    .. 
14    .. 


24 

1,018 


llerlii); 
Hua. 


H'.I7 

.■>iri 
ri7!i 

711.") 
771! 
6«.j 

!t7;i 
Nil  ' 

9'.'4 

i,r.4 
Mnr> 

402 
I.  55 1 

7!IJ 

ri-iii 

H'.'H 

7u:i 
2r.2 

mt  '. 
:ia:i 

31.! 

lao 


Kit>Miaii 


2n:i 


...I 


•117 


fi:i4 
:il4 

H|« 

'.172 

I .  :m 

2711  1 
I.U4H 
I.  USD 

4ii<) 
72fi 


Total 


T.ilal. 


H7K 

:iii2 
2!in 

«4lr 
I. (KM 

20 

.Vill     1 

71)7    I 

S4H 

77ii 

044 
1,250    ; 

491 
I,:i31     I 
1.330    I 

ODO    I 

463    I 
l,7H(l    I 

o'lO  ; 
5r>3   I 

1,021     i 

822 

HIW 
IIH 

H27 
1,208 

II2II 
1,008 
1.  123 
1,438 

.'■40 
1.052 
l,IIG4 

25 

489 

804 

27 

12 

24 

1.III8 


I 


li.  I'lO 


1.1.  «07 


8,  703       3U:  400 


AiiK'i-iraii  vi'M«i'la  . .. 
ratiadiai)  vpHaeiH 


Tiilal 


•SI  MMAIM    Ol-   J'KI.A,<;ir  ITIJ..SEAI,  (J.vrcil,  1807, 


'  In  a<l.lili.>i,  In  i:,w  a  ml,  h  of  .1.82:1  hIuii.h  ua.  iak...i  l,y  .lapaiiu.s..  s^ 


■  ■     4, 1148 

..  :io.  4011 


fl»  on  tlio  Russia  u  coant 


fhi 


TIT. 


I     ai 


m 


\* 


222 


THE    FUR    SEALS    OF   THE    PRHULOF    ISLANDS. 


o 
* 


« 


s       iS55?a5S?iit?is^iiiisiii5?   I     i 


t-  =  te  —  '-o  3J  M  r^  I-  s  -f  I',  o  jj  —  1.1  ?^  ?  -t-  c  .n  X  ^  =  ^ 
I)  II II  '.*(  1 1'  I  N  \'  -•  ^  x'»  rt  trj'rti.-^'ioo'*.-;  ae  «  s  ift  ts  f- -r  rTio  *':?'—  x  H 


5; 

■..lllljHV 

.in 

II  i!.i  I  .iiMily 

5 

p.. 

II 1  lll.l.ll.lpll  1 

5 

l" 

pil     -.iDtniiv 

1} 

_- 

8 

'I'lHH.IA 

^ 

Mll.trtHJ.l.vV 

9e 

a 

:; 

•I|  llll."  I"1I>.I, 

■- 

•£ 

"(•'""'A 

© 

■*«. 

■*• 

:s 

'.\'l!(liili>ip:<^ 

•A 

JS 

1 

'|.t8f).l\ 

j.hI.i^uj.ia  y 

^ 

7 

5 

-• 

■i|.iiii.i  |iii(),|. 

** 

s 

S|9X(I»  Y 

oc 

**■ 

'-. 

■Aiiimmiii'S 

-f  2  r:   -^  M  TO  S 


l"l".l.         -*tX5C 


i.-i  rt  1.1  in  iT 


J- 

-4- 

- 

^ 

ft  c 

.-r 

J^ilifgii  :  : 


??. 


:  £ 


«    ft      a , 


r.     t*  ?i    —     Vi  I-  X    X 


i  ;"v-.2  -  -^2  s  g« 


So«     ?!••»    r*M3     ri.-^K* 

-  -      s  » 


I   * 


^>s     d^^iiJ     Mzr—     x^ri 


:  5    a     i4  3S  i  ic 


ri  x  tg  —  tp  -^ 

W  .-  X  -fc  iS  (£ 


3S 

S  S  ?.  "i  f  i  *  .■*  5 


5  S   ■: 


r  X     X       o  ^     ^ 
—  ?l      rt       CII-     Ot 

r-  —    X     in  I-    ?i 


r;  X 

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H     <•    -^    r- 


1^  -»    o>     tc  r- 
I  -  iS     n     ri  — ' 


|0     lll't.>    .M,| 


•r^irili.i  r'H".! 


■  AltjniHHl'?'^ 


H.l[ltllhl{ 

i<>  )iia.>  .1.1,1 

.|.)ll.lifH.I*t.\V' 


MI.>Jl'.>l"l<>.I.       ^•i'i'^ln 


■9\A9H-A\ 


■AlipmoiuiX 


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I  lO  r*  -f  •*  r:  t  r 


rM'*XXC-^iO 
X  ^»n  3  3J  n— •^- 
=  irt  '^  T  —  CI  r  I :- 


ns 


<e  no    n      5  to    x 

i.1  ^      X        '-T  X      I- 


I  -  —    s     1  -  n 
7  1"^    »  I  X  V 

=3  t  "V^i 


3     -5 


X      -f       iS'l      il       -^  *I     bi      CI  r-      ?l       —..* 

53  a 


X  ti  —  r-— ^ffi-P-*— XX  r» 
—  xi^.-h-.f?:""  —  t^S^I 


S  o    71     —  p    —     o  S        in 


10  *o  o  X  X  o  i^  -t  »  --  —  rr  X  2  rt  i.'  5 
—  Ti  »  ri  i?t  ??  —  »n  f  t  -  ri  X  —  o  ji 


ft  R 


l-l-      -r 


?1  X'     p      C»  ^ 

c-i  ."^    w     fi  PI    ■*     .1 M    tft  '  —  rt    -^     —  .*;        -f 


wr-xrsc—Mcifi 


•-  «     O       "OS 


-    ^    -  -   i: 


H    -<;j  H    -1;.  H    ^U  !-    <w 


'  -  :t  5  =  -  21 


b  X  X  X  X  3 


£  A  d> 


finlUjitoil '  1i  -'-»^*'*w 


^  ? 


;   a 
1   * 


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a  :  a 


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s 


NOTKS   ON    PELAOIC    CATCir.  223 

VKLAdlC  SEAL  CATCIIKS,  ISHS  70  W.'C. 

At'TIIORITlKS    lol!    FIOIHI'S    I'SED    IX    K(HIK.(i(HN(i    lAlll.K. 

[Ill  i|iiotiii);  Hiiiii  Kiir  Siiil  Arliitriiticin  I'appis  tbitlrHl  iililloii  m  iihvajit  riliTruil  t«.) 

'  Fnr-scal  Arltitriitioii.     Apii.  to  11.  S.  Ciisc,  vol.  1,  ji.  ."litl. 

'•'Catrlics  tor  voiirs  IstiS  to  ix'lt,  incliiHivr  .  is  niiiilo  up  of  NoitliwcHt  conHt  <•at^•h<^■^  (Fiir-Seal 
Arliitratioii;  Kritisli  CoiniiiiKsionrrN'  l\'f|iort,  \>.  l'07  it  s<'i|.);  Iiiili;iii  caiioit  (Mtclies  illrilisli 
('oiiiiiiiHsioiiprs'  |{<>|i<irt,  pp. -'(I7,  L'OHi,  mikI  skiii»  olitaiiicii  tliroii^h  the  IIiiiIboii  Ha.v  Coiiipuii.v'H  triiclin;; 
HtatioiiH  (Itritisli  I'diiiiiiiNNioiit'iH'  licpnrt,  p.  'i\\\), 

'M'atcliuM  of  pelagic  soalorH  and  liiiliaii  imiiuoh  ( HritUh  ('oiiiiiiiNsioni'rs'  Kcpnrt,  pp.  L'(I7,  L'liS),  ami 
rrtiinis  from  IIikUoii  Way  Conipany's  posts  i  llritiKhCoiniiiisNioiicrs'  K'cpoii,  )i.  21lii. 

'San  Francisco  riistom-liimsf  records:  hcpiity  Ccdlcctor  .Iciomc's  letters  of  I'eliniiii-.v  2)i  ct  seq., 
Wd'l.  on  tile  in  'I'reasnry  Mepartnieiit. 

Catcli  ofscliooner  Citii  of  San  Dieijo  (  Itritlsli  ConinnHsioncrs'  Report,  p.  208). 

''(';itches  of  pela;;ic  sealers  in  North  I'lieilie  anil  Hprini;  Sen  (  Hritisli  ('oniinissioiieiH'  Koport.  p. 
20H).  anil  returns  from  Ihidsoti  Kay  Conipaiiv's  ]ioHts  (Hritisli  Coniniissionors'  Report,  p.  121.'l). 

'  t'atrlies  in  North  I'iieilir  from  nil  sources  ( llriti!^h  ConiiniHsionors'  l{e)iort,  ii)i.  LMO,  L'13). 

^  Mtirkuted  ctitchus  from  llerin>;  Sea  (liritish  Commissioners'  h'eport.  p.21lii  plMHl'.tMiO  skins  seized 
on  schooners  Omranl.  TUorntiiii,  t'liroliini,  and  Sun  Diriin  (II.  II.  Melntyre's  niiiniiHcript  reiiort  to  Al.isUa 
Cnnimerci.'il  (omp.'iny,  a  copy  of  which  isin  possession  of  |)o|iartinont  >. 

'  HritiKhrommissioncr's  estimated  catch  of  .Vmerican  vessels  in  alt  loealitiesdiritislK'.imniissioners' 
K'eport.  J).  1.'12). 

"'North  I'acilic catches  (Kritish  (.'ummissioners'  h'eport,  ]i|i.  L'ld,  lilU). 

"Marketed  catehrs  from  lleriii);  Sea  I  Hritisli  (.'oiiimissioneis'  h'lport,  p.  L'tO)  )iliis  S, '111)  skins 
seized  in  Hering  Sea  and  nnaci'oniiled  for  liy  Hritisli  cominissionerN;  I l,!)(ll  skins  were  seized  thnt 
year*  ITnited  StatesCoiinter  C.'ise,  p.  Xi~),  and  the  Hritish  commissioneis,  on  ]inge  L'lO  of  their  re|Mirt, 
account  for  2,!li»l  ofthim. 

'-North  I'acilic  catches  (Hritish  L'ommissioners' Keport,  pp.  211, 2K{), 

'■'  Hering  Sea  catches  (  Hritish  CommiHsiouers'  He|iort,  p]).  211,  212). 

''North  Pacific  catches  (  Hritish  ('ominissioners'  Keport,  pp.  211,  2IU). 

'This  figure,  2",l.">0.  is  the  siiniof  the  tigiires22,ri30  and  •l,!t20,  the  origin  of  which  will  he  foiinil 
nnder  note  Hi.  The  Hritish  eommissioncrs,  on  page  IK  of  theirreport,  give  the  .ijiproxiinate  total  catch 
as  (i8,00<). 

■"In  a  letter  from  the  Hritish  foreign  oDice  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  diited  May  17,  lxit,-«,  the 
Hering  Sea  eatih  of  Hritish  vessels  for  ISill  is  i|i)oted  at  2!>,Mti.  Ithasheen  foniid  liy  this  l>e|)arlment 
that  these  tigures  represi'iit  the  total  catch  in  Hering  Sea — that  is,  including  seiils  killed  off  the  western 
side,  in  Russian  waters,  as  well  as  otf  the  cistern  side,  which  afterwards  lieianie  the  award  area.  This 
is  home  out  hy  the  fai't  that  it  appears  liy  the  Hritish  case  hefore  the  trihiinal  at  Paris  that  41  vessels 
were  warned  out  of  the  American  side  of  Hering  Sea  hetween  .Iniie  2!i  and  Aiigii.-.t  15,  ISlil,  under  I  lie 
modus  Vivendi  of  .lime  l.")  of  that  year.  It  is  certain  that  many  of  these  vessels  crossed  nvei  to  the 
Knssian  side  of  Hering  Sea  and  continued  scaling  until  the  close  of  the  season. 

Statistics  made  hy  Mr.  Alfred  I'raser,  now  in  possession  of  the  Treasury  Itepartimnt.  show  th.it 
8, 1112  skins  were  thus  taken  on  the  western  side  of  Hering  Sea  in  Knssian  waters.  <  tfthese.  (!,(iU>  wcri' 
taken  liy  Jiritisli  vessels  and  1,H1(1  by  .\merican  ves.sels.  We  should,  therefore,  deduct  from  tlie  Hritish 
tignres  (2!M4t>)  the  sum  of  ti.OIti,  leaving  22..'>!W  as  the  Hritish  <  ateli  in  the  :iw:ird  urea — tluit  is,  the 
eastern  side  of  Hering  .Sea — for  the  year  1M91. 

It  further  appears  from  Mr,  Praser's  tignres  that  the  .Vmeriean  cnti  h  in  Hering  Sea  in  18!il  was 
fi,7H6,  of  which  l,81t>  were  taken  in  I'lissian  waters  and  I, "20  in  thc^  award  ari'a.  Adding  to  tlie 
corrected  Hritish  catch.  22,530,  the  catch  of  the  .\mericau  vessels,  l.i'20.  w,(  have  27,4,">0  as  the  total 
catch  of  British  .ind  Ainericaii  vessels  in  that  part  of  Hering  Sea  known  as  the  award  area  for  the 
year  1S!»1. 

In  the  report  of  the  Conimittee  on  Ways  and  Means  to  acconiiiany  II.  1{.  S!l0i),  I'iftythird  ( 'ongress^ 
third  session.  Report  No.  1H4!),  the  i  atcli  in  Hering  Sea  lor  the  year  isitl  was  given  as2;(,04l,  on  the 
unthority  of  the  Treasury  Dojiartment.  These  lignies  imlnded  only  the  returns  of  Hritish  vessels,  as 
no  reliable  returns  as  to  American  vessels  were  then  in  the  jiossession  of  the  Department.  The  result 
was  reached  hy  deducting  from  the  estimate  given  liy  Consul  Meyers  in  his  report  (I'nitcd  States 
counter  ease),  28,605,  a  number  of  skins  estimated  to  have  been  taken  oil  the  Russian  co.ist.    This 


224 


I'lIK    Kim    HKALS    Ol'    I'lIK    IMilBll.UI'    ISLANDS. 


•■Mtiiiialf  wiM  reiiclieil  liy  »  citrul'iil  rxiiiiiiiiutioii  of  nil  cutt'lios  rci'tirroil  to  in  tlio  iiDliliivitH  hidI  i>tlii<r 
|iit|i«rH  ill  tlio  ritHr  iinil  <'oiiiili-r  rusu  <il'  lli»  I'nittMl  Sliit<'H  iiiiil  )irriit  Krllitiii,  oxcliiilInK  IhoHit  which 
went  rliiimtxl  to  have  Imttii  taken  iitV  tliu  Itiis.sian  rnaHt. 

That  the  MiitiNli  iKtnriiH  (iiliove  rititil  i,  l!ll,  140,  iiicliiilc  hi'iiIh  taki'ii  on  tli<t  \v<<Ht«rii  Hide  of  llt-iiii); 
Sua,  froiii  Ihr  KiiHNiiiii  hrnl,  will  iifipcar,  im  uliiivr  Htiitoil,  from  the  I'att  of  tlio  warniiiK  of  saiil  vomhuIh, 
illiilci'  tin-  inoilim  viv«n<li,  and  their  HiiliH«M|ncnt  i-roHsin^  to  llin  {{iiNHian  toaMt. 

Thr  report  of  tli«  iiiiniNter  of  inarine  and  tiNlierioH  of  ('miada  for  IK!M  rreililH  none  of  the  eateh 
to  liiiRHlan  wiiterH.  In  18!)'.',  howiner,  Naid  report  creditN  14,HI)5  hIuiih  out  id'  ii  total  of  ri.'<,!Ml.>  Ironi 
Haid  AHiatio  NlioroN.  The  fait  tlint  tliiM  liir^e  etiteli  vvuh  made  in  IHiVJ  poinlH  Htroii|;ly  toNiinilarcutcheH 
ill  the  year  IHill,  which  are  eonlirtned  liy  the  alioveiiientiinied  cvideiieo. 

"Obtained  liy  Hiilitrai  lin^  tlio  total  of  '21,  iM  and  H,A:i2  from  )i8,(Ni(). 

'"Heo  ITnitnd  Stati'H  eoiintcr  riim-,  pa){«  108. 

'''Taken  from  Alfred  Kraser'M  estiniiiteH  for  Amerienn  xealiiiK  lleot  In  AHiatie  waturH.  Skins 
entered  in  United  StatcH  portn. 

'"The  HinallneMH  of  the  iiumlier,  2,l!)!i,  Hiifo;*''*''*  ^''^t  either  niaiiy  of  (he  vesselH  after  clearing 
Hailed  directly  for  tho  Japan  eoiiHt.  or  else  the  eatchen  olV  the  NorlhweHt  eoast  were  tranHnhippcd  at 
Japan  portH. 

-'The  Amcrieaii  ciitrli  for  I8!KI  is  ItiiNed  upon  HliiliNtieN  compiled  liy  A.  Krancr  and  on  file  in  the 
TruaHiiry  Departninnt.  The  I'nited  StateH  eoimul  at  X'ieloria  Nlat<-H  (('oiiHiilar  Keportn  No.  lUI,  p. 27!() 
that  Anieriean  NclioonoiH  in  I8!);i  traiiHNliipped  at  Vokohaina  iind  llakodiite  lietween  17, (KM)  and  IN,(HN> 
skinH.  TblH  in  further  eonllriiied  liy  the  report  of  the  Canadian  department  of  niariiie  and  lishcrieH 
for  18!lli,  pa){e  elxviii,  wliieli  ^ivcH  the  cmIiIi  of  Aiiieiican  vuNHelH  landed  at  Hakodate  a»  IK.'iST. 

•'The  hffiireH  for  the  ratcheH  of  Canadian  vcHKelH  are  taken  from  the  report  of  (ho  Canadian 
department  of  ninrine  and  liHliericH  for  |8<);<,  page  elwii. 

'''The  London  trade  Halex  for  I8!);<  iiceonnt  fur  the  iliHpoHition  of  KMl.tMi!)  |ielaKie  Hkiim. 

•'Compiled  from  the  reiiortn  of  eolleelorH  at  jiorts  of  entry  on  the  I'acilie  (!oaHl.  Thevo  rnportn 
are  on  (He  In  the  TreaHiiry  Depaitineiit. 

-The  li{;nre  L'll.TIO  in  olilained  liy  taking  the  ti,8llti  Hkiim  noted  under  the  eaptlon  "Locality 
undetermined''  in  the  IrttiT  of  the  .Siciet.irv  of  the  TreiiHiiry  to  Coiif(reHH  dated  .lanuary  'Jl,  \H'X> 
(Kilty-third  ('oiiKreHs,  third  NesHioii,  K\.  hor.,  L'i;i),  and  dividing;  them  lietween  the  Asiiitio  and 
American  herdn  in  Hiniilar  proportioiis  nn  the  other  wkiiiH  l;iniled  at  Cnited  ."^tateH  portH  in  United 
.'^tatcH  Healing  vchhi'Ih  during  18li|.  The  r<*Hiilt  would  he:  Anieriean  herd,  Ii,  152;  AHiatie,  681.  Addin^t 
0,1.52  to  the  catch  on  th<>  N'ortliwcHl  eoaNt  ( I2.ll!)8)  already  Kiven  and  the  l<erin<;  >Se»  catch  (5,160) 
alreiuly  ^iven,  we  have  the  total  2!{,7l(l. 

-''  Made  up  of  Mkiiin  »n  per  I'ci'ordH  of  c.olleetorH  of  eiistoiiiM  on  the  I'aeillir  (uiast,  which  credit  Lf'OO 
to  .\Hiati(^  watern;  Ii8t  Hkiim,  previoiiHly  referred  to  in  note  25,  and  the  20,<H)()  okinH  which  it  is 
cHtimatcd  were  trniiHsliipped  in  ,la)ian  (K\.  Doe.  2l:<.  I''ift\-tliird  ('onv;ress,  tliinl  scNHion.  "NotcH 
eoneeniing  catch  for  1811I."  p.  I). 

•'Taken  from  report  of  Canadian  depart  nieiil  of  marine  and  lishericH  for  I8!M,  pa|;e  !t. 

The  ligiireg  20,125  inrliide  one  .\nieriran  vessel,  wliosn  catch  wiih  SI  skins. 

The  ligiircH  I!),  8111  contain  the  catches  of  three  Anieriean  veNsclH,  whieh  agKi'<'KAl<'d  l!IO  HkiiiH, 

The  facts  ^  'he  two  foro;;(>in;{  paragrapliH  are  ({ivcn  in  a  report  of  FishericH  ComniiHyioner 
CoHtiKan  to  the  (       ernor-deiieral  of  Canada,  under  4lat«  of  .lauuary  t),  18!I5,  page  !>■ 

-'Ueports  of  collectors  of  cUHtoms  at  Anieriean  ports  of  entry  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

-"'(•rtlcial  statement  Hunt  liy  rniteil  States  Consul  KohertH,  at  \'ictoria,  under  date  of  Noveinlier 
15,  I8<,I5,  anil  on  tile  in  the  Treasury  Dupartnient. 

■"'The  pehiffie  calch  for  lSil5  is  fnrtlier  inrreaseil  by  u  catch  of  about  l(t,(MK»  skins  taken  by 
vchhcIh  I'lcariiiK  from  .lapanese  ports. 

'"From  returns  of  rtiitod  StatcH  ins|ic('tors  who  examined  skins  landed  in  I'nited  States  ports. 

"From  oftii'ial  returiiH  of  colleitor  of  cnstoniH,  Victoria,  Itritisli  Colunibia.     Skiiia  not  inspected. 

""  In  ttveraj{cs  per  vessel  lelaliiin  to  Northwest  coast  calrh,  the  canoe  eatilies  are  not  included. 
HritiHlit'olumbia  caiioo  catch,  2,:i5:<,  included  iii  Canadian  Northwest  (^oaHt  total. 

"Total  eatidi  of  American  and  Canadian  \  easels  for  1890  further  increased  by  a  ratcli  of  l<,3!)2 
skins  taken  by  vchscIh  clearing  fr<im  .lapanene  ports,  ami  of  l,|{)7  skiim  taken  by  nativcH  in  the  paBHen 
of  the  Al<!utian  IslandH. 

-'-''All  log  entries  relating  to  Anieriiaii  pi'l.igic  catch  sworn  to  bv  iiiasters  of  veH.sels,  but  niiml  of 
them  changed  as  to  proportion  of  females  upon  exaiuination  of  catches  by  inspectors  of  Heal  HkiuB. 


PKUCKNTACiE   OF    FKMAI.EH. 


'>'>r. 


2r, 


mil  I'cliiriiN  tiilii'M   I'r 


lllll    Nt.'ltt'lllClllH     I 


>,\   iim,  Icfs  lit"  m'shcIn 


'"l'ro|tortii>ii  of  IrriiitlrH  in  all  (Jiiiiiiil 
CiitihcM  not  (lUliittlly  iiiH) hill  ns  to  hh\. 

t 


"•rota!  .Nit.h  of  A.Mfiri.Mt,  v..H8elH  in  liic-ieaH...I  l,v  11..,  .at.-l,  of  L-M  tikli.s  l.l<..,i  l.v  ii,.,  /• .  ,r 


/'i»/(W  miliiiii  imitrlH  in  iiwiiiil  uno. 


Aiiii'riciiii.. 
Citiiiulinii . . . 
Total 


IKU4. 


:i(i 


114 


•■Vi 

4U 
Ml 


IXIHl. 
|H 
.'.It 


Toliil  muiliiin  i-fHHrlH  in  .liialir  inilrrx. 

AtllCI'icilll 031  ;|r,  |. 

<'''"i"'iiuii '      :iH  its 

tl(i|taiit«M(* 


25 


Id 


'I'lituI  . 


Ult 


71 


•M 


45 


1  Kntliiiatiiil. 
Tolal  mulimj  vrnHils  i„  .Iniatic  and  .h,„;ir,in  (c.i/,,-.-.. 


-J 


AllllTilMII 

ClIIIHlliull 

ilii|iaiHtH« 

I'lital 


ar. 


:;! 


84 


(IS 


III 
11)7 


I'rrrnil,,;/,  of  Irnialfx  i„  ,wla,ii,  ralrhen  in  /SHI,  ls:i-,,  and  ts'.h:. 
NoKTiiWKSI    roA.Sf. 
/.V.'//.-Ain.,iH-„n  v,.hhH.s.'  m  p,,,-  r,.nt.      Uritmli^  KJve  no  (iK„n,. 
/.V.'A,.  -Ai.inn.Mi,  \,,Hs,Is,  71  |M-r  r.„if,.     Itntisl,  «ivr  no  ||^,„„s 
/.VOo.-Aii.ciruM  v.-«H,.|H.  m  ),,„•  rent.     Hiitisli  vcHsels,  1 ,r  rmit, 

IIKKINIi    SKA. 

/.V,a/._.\,„oii.-,-,i,  voMsrls,  lilt  ,„.r  .■,.i,t.     Uritisl.  vcbh.^Ib,  .-.r,  i,,r  «„nt, 

/AV'-.-Aiiionran  vmsolH,  7:{  pur  .•onl.     HritiHh  vi!hs..|,s,  .V.  prr  cent 

—  _^"5'~'^"""!'';""  ^«"'*«'«.  '•"•  Por  com.     ItritiHh  vchh.Ih,  lil  prr  .ml. 

Hill.'  in  tiM.  sa „,.a  an'l  a,  ll,«  Ham"!",,.  '^  "'"  '■»l'"''"»-     "'"  "•""-I"  "I  U,.!  tw.,  1|,«Ih  «.,■.,  ..„.„f,.,.,l  s„l..  I,y 

I.-.18I 1.-. 


m 


22fi 


THE    FUR    SEALS    OF   THE    PIUBILOF    ISLANDS. 


Kuliiiialiil  iiiliif  iif  Ciiiiailinii  irtHiU  eiujageil  in  jtilaiiif  neiilin;/  in  all  iriiUrH,  niaiion  of  /Sfii:,  hiil  nol  1807, 

clearril from  I'icloria.' 


N'UIIH*  nl'  \'<)HHI-1. 


('urrlo.C.  W 

.Snn  .Ii)«fi 

SUHI'V  1.B8H 

Ubl.io 

Walt««r  I,.  Ulrli  .... 
OHcar  unci  Hnttie.. 

(Irniiii  |{uver 

Ventura 

Kiito 

Kiiiitl.  Ilciiil 

Doliiliiii 

DurlH 

Ada 

Sflnia  

KloruiK'v  M.  Smith 

Viva 

MaHi'ot 

Aiiiora 

Ida  Ktta 


'I'on- 
iiaitc. 


rirnt 
ront, 
allow 

IDK 
♦7.1  |»T 

ton. 


A«i'. 


91.8 

80.  .'iS 

37.82 

03 

76 

81 

S6 

48.4 

S8 

20 

72 

,59.  70 

00 

21.44 

98.69 

92 

41.21 

41 

89.23 


*0,885 
2,293 
2.836 
6,975 
6,700 
6. 07.') 
4.1 2.') 
;i.  63(1 
4,  3.50  i 
L.'iOO  I 

6.400  I 
4.484  I 
0,760 
1,008  I 

7. 401 
0,900 
3,090 
3.  075 
6,192 


9 

40 

r> 
•  ;i 

20 
13 

1 

•15 
35 
10 
15 
•2 
17 

4 

•5 
I'* 
».? 

0 
13 


Dailiio- 

tloilM 

liir  ngf 
at  6  |HT 

Cl'llt 

per 
Minuni. 

:  13, 786 

(>) 

2,127 

'     5, 028 

(•) 

2.120 

3,919 

907 

CI 

300 

1,.'I50 

4,  035 

1,012 

1,286 

6.  550 

2,  7(10 

2.  317 

l.OUl 

1.817 


Nil  hi 
lier  of 
lioatn. 


'  Kiiti  '  Knti. 
iiiali'il  inati'il 
valiin      valiii' 

of  iHiatn  of  vtm- 
al  W  Hi'l  aixl 
uauli.      Iiiiata. 


I 


M 
2 
2 
3 
II 
3 
2 
3 


♦ISO 
1(K) 
100 
l.'iO 
ttM 
l.'iO 
IIIU 
150 
100 
100 
I. to 
100 
KM) 
50 
450 
40(1 
I  (Ml 
2.5(1 
3.5(1 


♦3.  030 
320 

2.  227 

0,  (170 

1.  12(1 
2, 270 
4.010 
1.057 

535 
40(1 
1,500 
4.135 
1,112 
1.  336 
0,  00(1 

3.  10(1 
2.417 
1.041 
2, 167 


EHtiiiial4"l 

Vllldl' 
of  OliniM*N.'' 


Niiiii 
Iwr. 


15 

8 
U 
U 
(') 
i:i 

0 

H 

12 

5 

13 

II 

II 

5 

Cl 

CI 

H 

3 

Cl 


Vjiliin. 


♦375 
200 
275 
:i.50 
CI 
325 
225 

;i(i(i 

125 
325 
350 
275 
125 
CI 
CI 
LMIO 
75 
^*) 


Total.  I»  v..|ii«dn iM5, 737 

Averiigi'  piT  vi'SHvl  (Hp|iri>xiinat«ly| $'.'.400 

>  I'D'pnretl  liy  C'apt.  Calriii  i,.  Ilooper,  It.  C.  S..  ciiinniaiiilinK  llcriiii;  Sra  patrol  lli-«t. 

<(,'aiii»>  valdeH  i>Htimat«il  sapurat«ly. 

'  VeHHtda  IH  yt'urH  ul'  ii^o  or  ovtir  arc  uAtiinatril  at  10  ]ipr  vt\u\  ol'  tlioir  origiidil  vast. 

•Not  kiiowu. 

'  Kntiniatua. 

Note. — KrpairH  iiiaili'  to  any  ol'  tlieac  voMielH  wimiIiI  iucreaau  tlir  vahio  propiirtioiiately, and  would  li«  xubjoct  to  tbo 
5  per  cent  ileddction  for  ai;u  tliu  same  ag  the  hull. 


Sdleg  of  Ctipe  Horn'  ialled  fiir-senl  ikhm. 

NorK.— 'i'livse  fl){(irt<g  hIiow  tin'  comparatively  iiiHigiiitli'niit  yield  ol'  those  Hcinlherii  riMikcriex  nit  ('(mipureil  with  tboso 
Itui'iiiK  Sea. 


Year. 


Skins. 


Year. 


Skins. 


Year. 


Skins. 


Your. 


SkinH. 


1876 

6,306  • 

1882 

11,711 

1888 

4,403 

18114 

02 

IH77 

7,6;u 

1883 

4.055 

1880 

3,021 

1X95 

1.8SH 

1878 

8,  227 

1884 

0. 743 

189(1 

2.450 

IHUn 

2,5111 

1879 

12, 180 

1885 

3.404 

1801 

.'1.114 

1807 

1,2B5 

1880 

17,502 

1886 

009 

1892 

0, 292 

1881 

13.164 

1887      ; 

2.762 

1803 

2. 131 

'I'be  skins  takuu  oH'CaiHi  Horn  not  under  any  KOviTnnioiit  com  met. 
Salted  Loboa  Island  'fur  seals  sold  in  London. 


Year,    j 

Skins. 

Year.    ' 
1880 

Skins. . 
14, 830 

,    Year.     , 

1887 

Skins. 

11.U08 

Year. 
IH04 

Skins. 

i 

1873  ' 

6.956 

12.  145 

1874 

8,500 

1881 

13,569 

1888 

2(1.  747 

1805 

12.017 

1875 

8. 170 

1882 

13.  200 

1889 

8,755 

1890 

14.0111 

1876 

11,353 

1883 

12, 801 

1890 

18,541 

IHin 

12,791 

1877 

13,000 

1884 

16.258 

1801 

15.8:14 

1878 

12, 301 

1885 

10,953 

1892 

12.202,, 
13, 024 

1 

1879 

12, 205 

1886  i 

1 

13,667 

1893 

1 

'  The  skins  taken  by  a  UruKUuyan  company  on  the  Lobos  Islands  off  Uoutuvideu. 


91  i 


APPIONUIX   ir. 


DOCUMENTS  RELATING  TO  THE  FUR  SEAL  QUESTION. 


I 


be  subject  to  the 


imri'il  with  those 


AOUEEMINT    ItlCI'WF.ES    1 11 1'.     (iOVKUXMESV    nf     TIH:    I  Sill:!)    SIAI'F.S    ASH    Till: 

(i<»n:iiyMi:.\T  of  iifii  ///.•/ y.i.v.v/r'  M.i.iFsry  nm  .i  moi>i\s  \  n  fsih  is  jifi.j- 

TIUN  TO  THE  VUli-SEM.    FISIIEUIES  IS  ItEltlSd  sE.I. 

For  the  piir|>(»so  ofavoitliii^;  irritiitiii);  ilill'eit'iUMis,  aiid  witli  a  vio\vt«»  promote  Ww. 
trieiully  Ht'ttlcineiit  of  the  (jia'stioii  pciidinj;  between  the  two  (ioveiimiciits  toiieliiiifi 
their  respective  ii{(hts  in  iSerin^  Sea,  and  tor  the  preservation  of  tiie  seal  s|ie(;ie8,  the 
following;  ai;reenient  is  inaile  without  prejudice  to  tiie  rij,fhts  or  chiims  of  either  |)arty: 

(1)  Her  Majesty's  (.lovernrneiit  will  jtrohibit,  until  May  next,  seal  killing  in  that 
part  of  Beriufi  Sea  lyiuK  eastward  of  the  line  of  demarcation  described  in  Article  N(k 
1  of  the  treaty  of  1807  between  the  I'nited  States  and  K'ussia,  and  will  promptly  use 
its  best  etiorts  to  insure  the  observance  of  this  prohibition  Ity  ISritish  subjects  and 
vessels. 

(2)  The  I'nited  States  (lovernment  will  prohibit  seal  killing  for  the  same  period 
in  the  same  part  of  IJerin}'' Sea  and  on  the  shores  and  islands  thereof,  the  property 
of  the  United  States,  (in  excess  of  7,500  to  be  taken  on  the  islands  for  the  subsistence 
and  care  of  the  natives),  aiul  will  promptly  use  its  best  etl'orts  to  insure  the  observance 
of  this  prohibition  by  United  States  citizens  and  vessels. 

(3)  Every  vessel  or  person  ott'ending  against  this  prohibition  in  the  said  waters 
of  Bering  Sea  outside  of  the  ordinary  territorial  limits  of  the  United  States  may 
be  seized  and  detained  by  the  naval  or  other  duly  (tommissioncd  olliccrs  of  either 
of  the  High  Contracting  Parties,  but  they  shall  be  handed  over  as  soon  as  pra<!tical»le 
to  the  authorities  of  the  nation  to  which  they  respectively  belong,  who  shall  alone 
have  jurisdiction  to  try  the  offense  and  impose  the  penalucs  tor  the  same.  The 
witnesses  and  proof  necessary  to  establish  the  offense  shall  also  be  sent  witii  them. 

(4)  In  order  to  facilitate  such  proper  in(|uiries  as  Ilei'  Majesty's  (lovernment  may 
desire  to  make,  with  a  view  to  the  presentation  of  the  case  of  that  (Jovernment  before 
arbitrators,  and  in  expectation  that  an  agreement  for  arbitration  may  be  arrived 
at,  it  is  agreed  that  suitable  persons  designated  by  Great  Britain  will  be  permitted  at 
any  time,  upon  ajtplication,  to  visit  or  to  remain  upon  the  seal  islands  during  the 
present  sealing  season  for  that  purpose. 

Signed  and  sealeil  in  duplii^ate  at  Washington  this  lAth  day  of  .lune,  ISJH,  on 
behalf  of  their  respective  (lovernments,  by  William  V.  Wharton,  Acting  Secretary 
of  State  of  the  United  States,  and  Sir  .lulian  I'auncelbtc,  (1.  ('.  M.  U.,  K.  C  li., 
11.  B.  M.,  Envoy  Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary. 

|SEAL.|  Wll.MAM    !•'.    WlJAirroN. 

I  SEAL.  I  Julian  Paincefote. 

2127 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


% 


h. 


^^  .^4b. 


.*'-.V^. 


1.0 


1.1 


1.25 


llJil 


1^  iy4 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WiBSTH.N.Y   14StO 

(7V    ;  «/2.4503 


^.V 


;1      'I' 


22S 


THE    FUK   SEALS   OF   THE    I'RIIilLOF    ISLANDS. 


TllK.irV     llEIWEEy    TJE 


UXITEI)    STATES      OF     AMEIIK  .1 
CONCLUDED  FEIiUlAIlY  J9,  1S!K'. 


ASP      UHEAT     lilllTAlX 


I       I 


Tlie  ITiiited  States  of  AHierica  and  Her  Majesty  the  (iueeuoftbe  United  Kin}>doin 
olCJreat  Britain  and  Ireland,  beiny  desirous  to  i)rovide  for  an  aiiiicaldo  settlement  of 
the  (luestions  which  have  arisen  between  their  respective  (iovernnients  concerning 
the  jurisdictional  rifjhts  of  tlie  I'nited  States  in  the  waters  of  Bering's  Sea,  and 
citncerning  also  the  i)reservation  of  the  fur-seal  in,  or  habitually  resorting  to,  the  said 
sea,  and  the  rights  of  the  citizens  and  subjects  of  either  country  as  regards  the  taking 
the  fur-seal  in,  or  habitually  resorting  to,  the  said  waters,  have  resolved  to  submit  to 
arbitration  tlieijuestions  involved,  and  to  the  end  of  concluding  a  convention  for  that 
purpose  have  appointed  a;^  iheir  respective  Pleuipotentiaries  : 

The  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  James  G.  Blaine,  Secnetary  of 
State  of  the  United  States;  and 

Her  Majesty  the  Quci-ji  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  (ireat  JJritain  and  Ireland,  Sir 
.Inlian  I'auncefote,  G.  C.  M.  G.,  K.  0.  11.,  Her  Majesty's  Envoy  Extraordinary  and 
Minister  Plenii)otentiary  to  the  United  States  ; 

Who,  after  having  communicated  to  each  other  tlieii'  respective  full  powers  which 
were  found  to  be  in  due  and  i)roper  form,  have  agreed  to  and  concluded  the  following 
articles  : 

Article  I.  The  (iiiestions  which  have  arisen  between  the  (Jovernment  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Government  of  Her  liritannic  Majesty  concerning  the 
jurisdictional  rights  of  the  United  States, in  the  watersoi  ISering  Sea,  and  concerning 
also  the  [(reservation  of  the  fur-seal  in,  or  habitually  resorting  to,  the  said  sea,  and 
the  rights  of  the  citizens  and  subjects  of  either  country  as  regards  the  taking  of  fur- 
seal  in,  or  habitually  resorting  to,  the  said  waters,  shall  be  submitted  to  a  tribunal  of 
arbitration,  to  be  composed  of  seven  arbitrators,  who  shall  beai)pointcd  in  the  following 
manner,  that  is  to  say:  Two  shall  be  named  by  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
two  shall  be  named  by  Her  Britannic  Majesty  ;  His  Kxcellency  the  President  of  the 
French  Republic  shall  be  jointly  requested  by  tiie  high  contracting  parties  to  name 
one;  His  Majesty,  the  King  of  Italy,  shall  be  so  requested  to  name  one;  and  Mis 
Majjesty  tlie  King  of  Sweden  and  Norway,  shall  be  requested  to  name  one.  The 
seven  arbitrators  to  be  so  named  shall  be  jurists  of  distinguished  reputation  in 
tlieir  respective  countries;  and  the  selecting  powers  shall  be  retpiested  to  choose,  if 
l»os8ible,  jurists  who  are  acquainted  with  the  English  language. 

In  case  of  death,  absence,  or  incapacity  to  serv(>  of  any  or  either  of  the  said 
arbitrators,  or  in  the  event  of  any  or  either  of  tlie  said  arbitrators  omitting  or  declining 
or  ceasing  to  act  as  such,  the  President  of  the  United  States,  or  Her  Britannic  Majesty, 
or  His  Excellency  the  President  of  the  French  Republic,  or  His  Majesty  the  King  of 
Italy,  or  His  ^lajesty,  the  King  of  Sweden  and  Norway,  as  the  case  may  be,  shall  name, 
or  shall  be  requested  to  name  forthwith  another  person  to  a(!t  as  arbitrator  in  the  place 
and  stead  of  the  arbitrator  originally  named  by  such  head  of  a  state. 

And  in  the  event  of  a  refusal  or  omission  for  two  mouths  after  receipt  of  the  joint 
request  from  the  High  Contracting  Parties  of  his  Excellency,  the  President  of  the 
French  Republic,  or  His  Msijesty,  the  King  of  Italy,  or  His  Majesty,  the  King  of 
Sweden  and  Norway,  to  name  an  arbitrator,  either  to  till  the  original  appointment  or 
to  till  a  vacancy  as  above  provided,  then  in  such  case  the  appointment  shall  be  made 
or  the  vacancy  shall  be  tilled  in  such  manner  as  the  High  Contracting  Parties  shall 
agree. 


THi:    ABI!ITR\TION    TREATY. 


229 


liUl  lAlS 


Art.  II.  Tlio  arbitiatois  sliall  meet  at  Piiri.s  within  twenty  days  after  the  (U'livery 
of  the  coiiiiter  cases  mentioned  in  Article  IV.  and  shall  proceed  impartially  and 
carefully  to  examine  and  decide  the  (pie.s^^ious  that  have  been  or  shall  be  laid  before 
them  as  herein  provided  on  the  part  of  the  (iovernment  of  the  I'nited  States  and  Her 
Jiritannic  Majesty,  respectively.  All  'iiiestions  considered  by  the  tribunal,  inclndiiig; 
the  final  decision,  shall  be  determined  by  a  majority  of  all  the  arbitrators. 

Each  of  the  High  Contracting  Parties  sliall  also  name  one  person  to  attend  the 
tribunal  as  its  .igent  to  represent  it  generally  in  all  matters  connected  with  the 
arbitration. 

Art.  III.  The  printed  ca.se  of  each  of  the  two  parties,  accomi)anied  by  the 
documents,  the  otlicial  correspondence,  and  other  evidence  upon  which  each  relies, 
shall  be  delivered  in  dui)licate  to  each  of  the  arbitrators  and  to  the  agent  of  the  other 
party  as  .soon  as  n)ay  be  after  the  apjtointment  of  the  members  of  tlie  tribunal,  but 
within  a  period  not  exceeding  four  mouths  from  the  date  of  the  ex(!hauge  of  the 
ratifications  of  this  treaty. 

Art.  IN'.  Within  three  months  alter  the  delivery  on  both  sides  of  the  printed 
case,  either  party  may,  in  like  manner  deliver  in  duplicate  to  each  of  the  .said 
arbitrators,  and  to  the  agent  of  the  other  party,  a  ccmnter  case,  and  additional 
documents,  correspondence,  and  evidence  so  i)re.sented  by  the  other  party. 

If,  however,  in  c(mse(iuence  of  the  di.statice  of  the  jdace  from  which  the  evidence 
to  be  presented  is  to  be  juocured,  either  i>arty  shall,  within  thirty  days  after  the 
receipt  by  its  ageut  of  the  case  of  tlu".  other  party,  give  notice  to  the  other  party  that 
it  requires  additional  time  for  the  delivery  of  such  counter  case,  documenl.s, 
e(urespoiulence,  and  evidence,  such  additional  time  .so  indicated,  but  not  e.\eee<ling 
sixty  days  beyond  the  three  months  in  this  article  provided,  shall  be  aUowed. 

If,  in  the  case  submitted  to  the  arbitrators,  either  party  shall  have  speciified  or 
alluded  to  any  report  or  document  in  its  own  exclusive  possession,  witlumt  annexing 
a  copy,  such  party  shall  be  boun<l,  if  the  other  ])arty  thinks  jn-oper  to  apply  for  it, 
to  furnish  that  i»arty  with  a  copy  thereof;  and  either  party  may  vail  ni)on  the  other, 
through  the  arbitrators,  to  produce  the  originals  or  certified  copies  of  any  papers 
adduced  as  evidence,  giving  in  each  instance  notice  thereof  within  thirty  days  after 
delivery  of  the  ca.se;  and  the  original  or  (^opy  so  requested  shall  b(^  delivere<l  as  soon 
as  may  be,  and  within  a  period  not  exceeding  forty  days  aftei'  receipt  of  notice. 

Art.  V.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  agent  of  each  party,  within  one  month  alter 
the  exi)iration  of  the  time  limited  lor  the  delivery  of  the  counter  ca.se  on  both  sides  to 
deliver  in  duplicate  to  each  of  the  said  arbitrators  and  to  the  agent  of  the  other 
party  a  ])rinted  ar";ument  showing  the  points  and  referring  to  the  evidence  np<m 
which  his  (iovernment  relies,  and  either  party  may  also  .support  the  same  before 
the  arbitrators  by  oral  argument  of  counsel;  and  the  arbitrators  may,  if  they  desire 
further  elucidation  with  regard  to  any  point,  require  a  written  or  printed  statement 
or  argument,  or  oral  arguuuuit  of  counsel,  upon  it;  but  in  such  case  the  other  party 
shall  be  entitled  to  reply,  either  orally  or  in  writing,  as  the  case  may  be. 

Ar'I'.  VI.  In  deciding  the  matters  submitted  to  the  arbitrators,  it  is  agreed  that 
the  following  five  points  shall  be  submitted  to  them,  in  order  that  their  awani  shall 
embrace  a  distinct  decision  uimui  each  of  said  live  points,  to  wit: 

1.  What  exclusive  jurisdiction  in  the  sea  now  known  as  the  Bering  Sea,  and 
what  exclusive  rights  in  the  .seal  fisheries  therein,  did  Ru.ssia  assert  and  exercise  prior 
and  up  to  the  time  of.  the  cession  of  Alaska  to  the  Tnited  States? 


230 


TIIK    rUIi    SEALS    OF    THE    PltlBII-OK    ISLANDS. 


1 

1 

1 

% 

I 
1 

.    » 

1 

HI'  "^ 

^  • 

2.  IIow  I'lU'  vvce  these  cliiiins  of  Jiirisdietion  as  to  tlie  seal  Hslieries  recognized 
and  eoiict'ded  by  (ireat  Britain? 

li.  Was  the  body  of  water  now  known  as  the  Bering'  Sea  inchided  in  the  phrase 
"i'a(!ili(!  Ocean,'' as  used  in  tlie  treaty  of  18L*r»  between  (Ireat  Britain  and  Hiissia; 
and  what  rights,  if  any,  in  the  Bering  Sea  were  held  and  exclusively  exercised  by 
i>'ussiii  after  said  treaty? 

4.  Did  all  the  rights  of  Russia  as  to  jurisdiction,  and  as  to  the  seal  fisheries  in 
ISering  Sea  east  of  the  water  boundary,  in  the  treaty  between  the  United  States  and 
Bussia  of  the  30th  March,  1SC7,  pass  unimpaired  to  the  United  States  under  that 
treaty? 

."(.  lias  the  United  States  any  riglit,  and  if  so,  what  riglit  of  i)rotection  or  i)roi)erty 
in  the  fur-seals  freiinenting  the  islands  of  the  United  States  in  Bering  Sea,  when  such 
seals  are  found  outside  the  ordinary  Smile  limit? 

Ak't.  VII.  If  the  determination  of  the  foregoing  questions  as  to  the  exclusive 
jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  shall  leave  the  subject  in  such  ]»osition  that  the 
concurrence  of  (Ireat  Britain  is  necessary  to  the  establishment  of  regulations  for 
tiie  proi)er  protection  of  the  fur-seal  in,  or  habitually  resorting  to,  the  Bering  Sea, 
the  arbitrators  shall  tlien  determine  what  concurrent  regulations  outside  t'  e  jurisdic- 
tional limits  of  tlie  respective  (lovernments  are  necessary,  and  over  what  waters  such 
regidations  should  extend,  and  to  aid  them  in  that  determination,  the  report  of  a 
Joint  Commission  to  be  appointed  by  the  respective  Governments  shall  be  laid  before 
them,  with  such  other  evidence  as  either  (iovernment  may  submit. 

Tue  High  Contracting  Parties  furthermore  agree  to  co  operate  in  securing  the 
adhesion  of  other  Powers  to  such  regulations. 

AUT.  VIII.  The  High  Contracting  Parties  having  found  themselves  unable  to 
agree  upon  a  referen<!e  which  shall  include  the  questittn  of  tlie  liability  of  each  for  the 
injuries  alleged  to  have  been  sustained  by  the  other,  or  by  its  citizens,  in  connection 
Avith  tlie  claims  presented  and  urged  by  it;  and  being  solicitous  that  this  subordinate 
question  should  not  interrupt  or  longer  delay  the  submission  and  determination  of  the 
main  questions,  do  agree  that  either  may  submit  to  the  arbitrators  any  (juestions 
of  fact  involved  in  said  claims  and  ask  for  a  finding  thereon,  the  (piestions  of  the 
liability  of  either  Government  upon  the  facts  found  to  be  the  subject  of  further 
negotiation. 

Ar'1'.  IX.  The  High  Contracting  Parties  have  agreed  to  appoint  two  commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  each  Government  to  make  the  joint  investigation  and  report 
contemplated  in  the  preceding  Article  VII,  and  to  include  the  terms  of  the  said 
agreement  in  the  present  convention,  to  the  end  that  the  joint  and  several  reports  and 
recommendations  of  said  commissioners  may  be  in  due  form  submitted  to  the  arbi- 
trators, should  the  contingency  therefor  arise,  the  said  agreement  is  accordingly 
herein  included  as  follows: 

I'^ach  Government  shall  appoint  two  connnissicmers  to  investigate  conjointly  with 
the  commissioners  of  the  other  Governments  all  the  facts  having  relation  to  seal  life 
in  Bering  Sea,  and  the  measures  ne(;essary  lor  its  proper  protection  and  preservation 

The  four  commissioneis  shall,  so  far  as  they  may  be  able  to  agree,  make  a  joint 
report  to  each  of  the  two  Governments,  and  they  shall  also  report,  either  jointly  or 
severally,  to  each  Government  on  any  points  upon  whicdi  they  may  be  umible  to  agree. 


THE   PARIS   AWARD. 


231 


i'ec»»giiized 

tlie  phrase 
id  Hnssiii; 
;ert'ised  by 

fisheries  in 
States  and 
luder  that 

>r  i)roi)erty 
wiion  such 

>  exclusive 
II  that  tlie 
lations  for 
ering-  Sen, 
e  jurisdie- 
aters  such 
eport  of  a 
aid  before 

jurinff  tlie 

unable  to 
Ich  for  the 
onnection 
Jordiuate 
ion  of  the 
questions 
s  of  the 
lurther 

coinmis- 
id  report 

the  said 
)orts  and 
the  arbi- 

ndingly 

itly  with 
seal  life 
rvation 
a  Joint 
jintly  or 
o  agree. 


These  reports  shall  not  be  made  public  until  they  shall  be  submitted  to  the  arbi- 
trators, or  it  shall  appear  that  the  contingency  of  their  being  used  by  the  arbitrators 
can  not  arise. 

Art.  X.  I'^ach  (loverninent  shall  pay  the  expenses  of  its  members  of  the  .j(tint 
commission  in  the  investigation  referred  to  in  the  precieding  article. 

Abt.  XI.  The  decision  of  the  tribunal  shall,  if  possible,  be  made  within  three 
months  from  the  close  of  the  argument  on  both  sides. 

It  shall  be  made  in  writing  and  dated,  and  shall  be  signed  by  the  arbitrators  who 
may  assent  to  it. 

The  decision  shall  be  in  duplicate,  one  copy  thereof  shall  be  deliver»!d  to  the  agent 
of  the  United  States  foi-  his  Government,  and  the  other  copy  shall  be  delivered  to  the 
agent  of  Great  Britain  for  his  Government. 

Art.  XII.  Each  Government  shall  pay  its  own  agents  and  provide  for  the  proper 
remuneration  of  tiie  counse^  employed  by  it,  and  of  the  arbitrators  appointed  by  it, 
and  for  the  expense  of  preparing  and  submitting  its  case  to  the  tribunal.  All  other 
expenses  connected  with  the  arbitration  shall  be  defrayed  by  the  two  Governments  in 
equal  moieties. 

Art.  XIII.  The  arbitrators  shall  keep  an  accurate  record  of  their  proceedings, 
and  may  appoint  and  employ  the  necessary  officers  to  assist  them. 

Art.  XIV.  The  High  Contracting  Parties  engaged  to  consider  the  result  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  tribunal  of  arbitration,  as  a  full,  perfect,  and  llnal  settlement  of  all 
the  (piedtions  referred  to  the  arbitrators. 

Art.  XV.  The  present  treaty  shall  be  duly  ratified  by  the  rresident  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  thereof,  and  by 
Her  Britannic  Majesty;  and  the  ratification  shall  be  exchanged  either  at  Washington 
or  at  Loudon  within  six  months  from  the  date  hereof,  or  earlier  if  possible. 

In  faith  whereof  we,  the  respective  Plenipotentiaries,  have  signed  this  treaty  and 
have  hereunto  affixed  our  seals. 

Done  in  duplicate  at  Washington  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  February,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  ninety-two. 

[SEAL,.]  James  G.  Blaine. 

[seal. J  .Julian  PAUNruFOTE. 


AWARD  OF  THE  TRinVXAL  01'  ARIUTRATIOX  CONSTITUTED  UNDER  THE  TREATT 
CONCL  UDKD  A  T  WA SHINC TON  THE  39 Til  OF  I'ERR UA R  Y,  1S92,  liETWEEN  THE  VNI TED 
STATES  OF  AMERICA  AND  HER  MAJESTY  THE  QUEEN  OF  THE  IS'lTED  KINGDOM 
OF  GREAT  ItRITAlN  AND  IRELAND. 

[KiigliHli  verginii.] 

Wliereas  by  a  treaty  between  the  United  States  of  America  and  Great  Britain, 
signed  at  Washington  February  29, 1802,  the  ratifications  of  which  by  the  Governments 
of  the  two  countries  were  exchanged  at  London  on  May  7,  1892,  it  was,  amongst  other 
things,  agreed  and  concluded  that  the  questions  which  had  arisen  betwee"  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  the  Government  of  Her  Briiuiinic 
Majesty,  concerning  the  jurisdictional  rights  of  the  United  States  in  the  waters  of 
Bering  Sea,  and  concerning  also  the  i»reservation  of  the  fur  seal  in  or  habitually 


t   ! 


ll 


■;i    I 

I' 


232 


THE    rirK    SEALS    OK    THE    PUIItlLoK    ISLANDS. 


resortiii}^  to  the  .s;ii<l  sea,  iiiul  the  ri{jhts  of  the  citizens  ami  subjects  of  either  country 
as  re^anls  the  taicinf,'  of  liir  seals  in  or  habitually  res(»rtinj'  to  tlie  said  waters,  sliould 
be  submitted  to  a  tribunal  of  arbitration  to  be  composed  of  seven  arbitrators,  who 
should  be  ajipointed  in  the  following  manner,  tluit  is  to  say:  Two  should  be  named  by 
the  President  of  the  United  States;  two  shouhl  be  named  by  Her  Britannic  Majesty; 
His  Excellency  the  President  of  tlie  French  lie|)ublic  sliould  be  jointly  recjuested  by 
tlu'  liigh  contracting  parties  to  name  one;  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Italy  should  be  so 
reipiested  to  name  one;  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Sweden  and  Norway  sliould  ln!  so 
re(|uested  to  name  one;  the  seven  arbitrators  to  be  so  nanu'd  should  iie  Jurists  of 
distinguished  reputation  in  their  respective  countries,  and  the  selecting  ]»owers  should 
be  re(|uested  to  choose,  if  ]iossiblc,  Jurists  who  are  ac(|uainted  with  the  ICnglish 
language; 

And  wluneas  it  was  further  agreed  by  .Vrticle  11  of  th»^  said  treaty  that  the 
arbitrators  slnmld  meet  at  Paris  within  twenty  days  after  the  <lelivery  of  the  counter 
cases  mentioned  in  Article  IV.  and  should  proceed  imi)artially  and  carefully  to 
examine  and  decide  the  questions  which  had  been  or  should  be  laid  before  them  as  in 
the  said  treaty  provided  on  the  part  of  the  Ciovernments  of  the  United  States  and  of 
Her  Britannic  ^Majesty,  respectively,  and  that  all  (piestions  considered  by  the  tribunal, 
including  the  final  deciision,  should  be  determined  by  a  unijorityof  all  the  arbitrators; 

And  whereas  by  Arti(!le  VI  of  the  said  treaty  it  was  further  i)rovided  as  follows: 

In  tleciiling  the  inattiTs  Hubniitted  to  tlie  Hiiid  arliitratoiH,  it  is  agrt'eil  that  tlie  following  live 
pointH  sliiill  1)0  siilimitted  to  them  in  order  that  their  Jtward  shall  embrace  a  distinct  derision  iipoa 
eiu'hofsaid  five  points,  to  wit: 

1.  What  excltisivt)  jurisdiction  in  the  sen  uow  known  us  Hering  Sea,  ami  what  exclusive  rights  in 
the  seal  lislieru's  therein,  did  Hussia  assert  and  I'xercise  jirior  and  up  to  the  time  of  the  eession  of 
Alaska  to  the  United  States? 

'J.  How  fai  were  these  <'li(ims  of  Jnrisdietion  as  to  the  seal  lisheries  recognized  and  eon<'e(led  liy 
Great  liritain  i 

'.i.  Was  tli(>  body  of  water  now  known  as  Bering  Sea  inclnded  in  the  phrase  I'ai'ific  ( )cean,  as  u.>ied 
in  the  treaty  of  18i")  Vjetween  (ireat  Hritain  and  Russia;  and  what  rights,  if  any,  in  Heriug  Sea  were 
lield  and  exclusively  exercisfd  by  Russia  after  s.iid  treaty  i 

I.  Did  not  all  the  rights  of  Russia,  as  to, jurisdiction  and  as  to  the  seal  lisheries  in  Hering  Sea  east 
of  the  water  boundary,  in  the  treaty  between  the  I'uited  States  ami  Russia  of  the  :{{)th  of  March,  1S(!7, 
puss  unimpaired  to  the  Tniled  States  uniler  that  treaty  ? 

5.  lias  the  United  States  any  right,  and  if  so.  what  right,  of  i>rotectiou  or  property  in  the  fur 
seals  frequentin.;  the  islands  of  the  United  St.ates  in  Hering  Sea  when  such  seals  are  found  outside  the 
ordinary  3-niile  limit? 

And  whereas  by  Articde  VII  of  the  said  treaty  it  was  further  agreed  as  follows: 

If  the  determination  of  the  foregoing  (luestions  as  to  the  exclusive  .jurisdiction  of  the  United 
States  shall  leave  the  subject  in  such  position  that  -the  concurrence  of  Great  Hritain  is  necessary  to 
the  establishnu'nt  of  regulations  for  the  proper  j)roteetion  and  iireservatiou  of  the  fur  seal  in,  or 
habitiuilly  resorting  to,  Hering  Sea,  the  arbitrators  shall  then  determine  what  concurrent  regulations, 
outside  the  jurisdiction  limits  of  the  respective  (iovernments,  are  necessary,  and  over  what  waters 
such  regulations  should  extend; 

The  high  contracting  parties  furthermore  agrt^e  to  cooperate  in  securing  the  adhesion  of  other 
powers  to  such  regulations; 

And  whereas  by  Article  VIII  of  the  said  treaty,  after  reciting  that  the  high 
contracting  parties  had  found  themselves  unable  to  agree  upon  a  reference  which 
should  include  the  tpiestiou  of  the  liability  of  each  for  the  injuries  alleged  to  hsive  been 
sustained  by  the  other,  or  by  its  citizens,  in  connection  with  the  claims  presented  and 


"  •':-i:??»r.Jia?t?"t?'.ya'arjiflm 


THE    PARIS    AWARD. 


233 


(•oni'cilcil  l»v 


itn  of  other 


urged  by  it,  and  tliat  '' tliey  were  solicitous  that  tiiis  snltordiuate  question  should  not 
interrupt  or  longer  delay  tlie  submission  and  determination  of  the  main  ((uestions,'' 
the  liigh  contracting  parties  agreed  that  "eitiier  of  them  might  submit  to  the 
arbitrators  any  (juestion  of  fact  involved  in  said  olaims  and  ask  for  a  finding  thereon, 
the  (|ue8tion  of  the  liability  of  eitlierCiovernment  upon  the  facts  Ibund  to  be  the  subject 
of  further  uegotiation ; " 

And  whereas  the  President  of  tiie  I'nited  States  of  America  named  the  lion.  John 
M.  Harlan,  -histicre  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Inited  States,  and  the  lion.  John  T. 
Morgan,  Senator  of  the  United  States,  to  be  two  of  the  said  arbitrators;  and  llcr 
Uritannic  Majesty  named  tlie  Right  lion.  Lord  llannen  and  the  Hon.  Sir  John 
Thompson,  minister  of  Justice  and  attorney-general  for  Canada,  to  be  two  of  the  said 
arbitrators;  and  His  Kxcellency  the  President  of  tlie  Freiu-h  Republic  named  the  Baron 
de  Courcel,  senator,  ambassador  of  France,  to  be  one  of  the  said  arbitrators;  and  Ills 
Majesty  the  King  of  Italy  named  the  !\Iar(|uis  I'^mi'io  Viscouti  Venosta,  former  minister 
of  foreign  affairs  and  senator  of  the  Kingdom  of  Italy,  to  be  one  of  the  said  arbitrators; 
and  His  Hajesty  the  King  of  Sweden  and  Norway  named  Mr.  Gregers  Grain,  nnnister 
of  state,  to  be  one  of  the  said  arbitrators; 

And  whereas  we,  the  .said  arbitrators  so  named  and  ai»pointed,  having  taken  upon 
our.selves  the  burden  of  the  said  arbitration,  and  having  duly  met  at  Paris,  proceeded 
impartially  and  carefully  to  examiiu'  and  decid*;  all  the  i[uesti<)ns  suhmitted  to  us,  the 
said  arbitrators,  under  the  said  treaty,  or  laid  before  us  as  provided  in  the  said  treaty 
on  the  part  of  the  Governmeuts  of  Her  Jiritannic  Maje.sty  and  the  Cnited  States, 
respectively ; 

Xow  we,  the  said  arbitrators,  having  impartially  and  carefully  examined  the  said 
questions,  do  in  like  manner  by  this  our  award  decide  aiul  deternuiie  the  said  que.s- 
tions  in  the  manner  following;  that  is  to  say,  we  decide  and  determine  as  to  the  live 
points  mentioned  in  Article  VI  as  to  which  our  award  is  to  embrace  a  distinct  decision 
ui)on  each  of  them : 

As  to  the  tirst  of  the  said  five  points,  we,  the  said  IJaron  de  Courcel,  Mr,  Justice 
Harlan,  Lord  Hannen,  Sir  flohu  Thompson,  Marijuis  Visconti  Venosta,  and  Mr. 
Gregers  Gram,  being  a  majority  of  the  said  arbitrators,  do  decide  and  determine  as 
follows : 

By  the  ukase  of  1821  Russia  claimed  jurisdiction  in  the  sea  now  known  as  Bering 
Sea  to  the  extent  of  100  Italian  miles  from  the  coast  and  islands  belonging  to  her; 
but,  in  the  course  of  the  negotiations  which  led  to  the  concbi.sion  of  the  treaties  of 
1824  with  the  United  States  and  of  182i"»  with  Great  Britain,  Russia  admitted  that  her 
jurisdiction  in  the  said  sea  should  be  restricted  to  the  reacdi  of  cannon  shot  from 
shore,  and  it  appears  that  from  that  time  up  to  the  time  of  the  cession  of  Alaska  to 
the  XTnited  States  Russia  never  asserted  in  factor  exercise<I  any  exclusive  juri.sdiction 
in  Bering  Sea  or  any  exclusive  rights  in  the  seal  fisheries  therein  beyond  the  ordinary 
limit  of  territorial  waters. 

As  to  the  second  of  the  said  five  i)oiuts,  we,  the  said  Baron  de  (!ourcel,  .Mr. 
Justice  Harlan,  Lord  Hannen,  Sir  John  Thompson,  Manjuis  Vi.sconti  Venosta,  and 
Mr.  Gregers  Gram,  being  a  majority  of  the  said  arbitrators,  do  decide  and  determine 
that  Great  Britain  did  not  recognize  or  concede  any  claim  upon  the  part  of  Russia  to 
exclusive  jurisdiction  as  to  the  seal  fisheries  iu  Bering  Sea  outside  of  ordinary  terri- 
torial waters. 


'AH 


THE    lUli    SEALS   OF   THE    I'RIUILOF    ISLANDS. 


Ah  to  the  third  of  tlio  said  live  points,  as  to  so  iriiuili  tliero.of  as  roquin^s  us  to 
(l('ci('"i  wlictlier  tlu",  body  of  water  now  known  as  Herin}''  Sea  was  includud  in  the 
lilna.vvi  '  I'lcilii!  Ocean,"  as  used  in  tlie  treaty  of  18L'r>  between  (Ireat  liritain  and 
h'ussia,  "'  ,  tlio  said  arbitrators,  do  unanimously  deeide  and  determine  tliat  tlie  body 
of  water  now  known  as  Heriny  Sea  was  included  in  tlie  phrase  " Pacific  Ocean"' as 
used  in  the  said  treaty. 

And  us  to  so  nuich  (tf  the  said  third  point  as  requires  us  to  decide  what  lijjhts,  if 
any,  in  Berir.^j  Sea  were  held  and  exclusively  exercised  by  Russia  after  the  said  treaty 
of  18-'."),  we,  the  .said  l>aron  de  Courcel,  Mr.  Justice  Uarlan,  Lord  llannen,  Sir  John 
Thompson,  Maniuis  Visconti  Venosta,  and  Mr.  Gre^jers  Oram,  being  a  majority  of  the 
said  arl)itrators,  do  decide  and  determine  that  no  exclusive  ri>;lits  of  .jurisdi(!tion  in 
iierinjj  Sea  and  no  exclusive  rights  as  to  the  seal  fi.sheries  therein  were  held  or 
exercised  by  Hu.ssia  outside  of  ordinary  territorial  waters  after  th(!  treaty  of  182."). 

As  to  the  fourth  of  the  said  five  jmints,  we,  the  said  arbitrators,  do  uinmiuiously 
decide  and  determine  that  all  the  rights  of  Russia  as  to  jurisdiction  and  as  to  the  .seal 
fisheries  in  IJering  Sea  east  of  the  water  bound.ary,  in  the  treaty  between  the  I'nited 
Stiites  and  Russia  of  the  30th  March,  1807,  did  pass  unimpaired  to  the  United  States 
under  the  said  treaty. 

As  to  the  tifth  of  the  said  five  points,  we,  the  said  Baron  de  Courcel,  Lord  llannen, 
Sir.Iohn  Thompson,  Mar(|ui8  Visconti  Venosta,  and  Mr.  OregersOram,  being  a  majority 
of  the  said  arbitrators,  do  decide  and  determine  that  the  United  States  has  not  any 
right  of  protection  or  property  in  the  fur  seals  frequenting  the  islands  of  the  United 
States  in  Boring  Sea  when  such  seals  are  found  outside  the  ordinary  Smile  limit. 

And  whereas  the  aforesaid  determination  of  the  foregoing  questions  as  to  the 
exclusive  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States,  mentioned  in  Article  VI,  leaves  the  subject 
in  such  a  position  that  the  concurrence  of  Great  liritain  is  necessary  to  the  establish- 
ment of  regulations  for  the  projter  protection  and  preservation  of  the  fur  seals  in  or 
habitually  resorting  to  Bering  Sea,  the  tribunal  having  decided  by  a  niajority  as  to 
each  article  of  the  following  regulations,  we,  the  said  Baron  de  Courcel,  Lord  llannen. 
Marquis  Visconti  Venosta,  and  Mr.  Gregers  Gram,  assenting  to  the  whole  of  the  nine 
ji'tides  of  the  following  regulations,  and  being  a  majority  of  the  said  arbitrators,  do 
decide  and  determine  in  the  mode  provided  by  the  treaty  that  the  following  concurrent 
regulations  outside  the  jurisdictional  limits  of  the  respective  Governments  are 
necessary,  and  that  tliey  should  extend  over  the  waters  hereiuatter  meutiouedj  that 
is  to  say; 

RKGULATIONS 

Aktici.b  1. 

The  Governments  of  the  United  States  and  of  Great  Britain  shall  forbid  their 
citizens  and  subjects,  respectively,  to  kill,  capture,  or  pursue  at  any  time  and  in  any 
manner  whatever  the  animals  commonly  called  fur  seals  within  a  zone  of  60  miles 
around  the  I'ribilof  Islands,  inclusive  of  the  territorial  waters. 

The  miles  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph  are  geographical  miles,  of  00  to 
a  degree  of  latitude. 

Article  2. 

The  two(iovernment8  shall  forbid  their  citizens  and  subjects,  respectively,  to  kill, 
capture,  or  pursue,  in  any  manner  whatever,  during  the  season  extending  each  year 


THE    KEUULATIONS. 


235 


111  any 
miles 


o  kill, 
»  year 


from  the  lut  of  May  to  the  Ist  of  .luly,  both  iuoliisivo,  the  fur  seals  on  the  hijjh  sea,  in 
the  ]tait  of  tlie  I'acKic  Ocean,  iiu'lnsive  of  Herinfj  Soa,  which  is  situated  to  tlic  noi  tii 
of  tlie  tliii'ty  fifth  dejireo  of  north  latitude  and  eastward  of  the  one  liundred  and 
eifihtieth  degree  of  longitude  from  (ireeiiwich,  till  it  striives  the  water  boundary 
described  in  Article  1  of  the  treaty  of  1H(>7  between  the  I'nited  States  and  JJussia, 
and  following  that  line  uj*  to  Bering  Straits. 

AitTici.r.  3. 

During  the  j/eriod  of  time  and  in  the  waters  in  which  the  fur-seal  fishing  is  allowed, 
only  sailing  vessels  shall  be  permitted  to  carry  on  or  take  jiart  in  fur-seal  lishing 
operations.  They  will,  however,  be  at  liberty  to  avail  themselves  of  the  use  of  such 
canoes  or  undecked  boats,  propelled  by  paihlles,  oars,  or  sails  as  are  in  ccmimon  ii.se  as 
tishiug  boats. 

Aktici.k  i. 

'•'aeh  sailing  vessel  authorized  to  fish  for  fur  seals  must  be  provided  with  a  special 
liceuKi^  issued  for  that  purpose  by  its  (iovernmcnt,  and  shall  be  required  to  carry  a 
distinguishing  tlag,  to  be  i»rescribed  by  its  (lovernment. 

Akticlk  5. 

The  masters  of  the  vessels  engaged  in  fur-seal  fishing  shall  enter  accurately  in 
their  oflicial  log  book  the  date  and  jdace  of  ea»"h  fur  seal  fishing  ojjciation,  aud  also 
the  number  and  sex  of  the  seals  cai>tiircd  upon  each  day.  These  entiies  shall  be 
eommiiuieated  by  each  of  the  two  Governments  to  the  other  at  the  end  of  each  fishing 
season. 

AUTICI.E   6. 

The  use  of  nets,  firearms,  and  explosives  shall  be  forbidden  in  the  fur-seal  fishing. 
This  restriction  shall  not  apply  to  shotguns  when  such  fishing  takes  ))lace  outside  of 
Bering  Sea  during  the  season  when  it  may  be  lawfully  carried  on. 

Articm-.  7. 

The  two  (lovernments  shall  take  measures  to  control  the  fitness  of  the  men 
anthoiizi  d  to  engage  in  fur-seal  fishing.  These  men  .shall  have  been  proved  fit  to 
handle  with  .suflieient  skill  the  weapons  by  means  of  which  this  fishing  may  be 
carried  on. 

Articlk  8. 

The  regulations  contained  in  the  preceding  articles  shall  not  ai)ply  to  Indians 
dwelling  on  the  coasts  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States  or  of  <ireat  Britain,  and 
carrying  on  fur-seal  fishing  in  (-anoes  or  undecked  boats  not  transported  by  paddles, 
oars,  or  sails,  and  manned  by  not  more  than  live  persons  each  in  the  way  hitherto 
practiced  by  the  Indians,  provided  such  Indians  are  not  in  the  employment  of  other 
persons,  and  provided  that,  when  so  hunting  in  canoes  or  undecked  boats,  they  shall 
not  hunt  fur  seals  outside  of  territorial  waters  xinder  contract  for  the  delivery  of  the 
skins  to  any  i)erson. 

This  exemption  shall  not  be  construed  to  affect  the  municipal  law  of  either 
country,  nor  shall  it  extend  to  the  waters  of  Bering  Sea  or  the  waters  of  the  Aleutian 
Passes. 


236 


I'lIK    FUK    SEALS    OK    THK    PKIIULOF    ISLANDS. 


1^ 


NotiiiiifT  liPi'Pin  «M»iitiiiiii'(l  is  iiiti'iulod  t<»  iiiterft'ic  witli  tlie  t'liiployiiieiit  of  IiiUiaiiM 
as  liuiiters  or  otlierwisc  in  cuiiiiectiKii  witli  fur  acalinp  vossels,  as  lieretotitro. 

Abtk  I.K  !>. 

Tlie  concurrent  rcfjiiliitions  horeby  determined  with  a  view  to  tlie  protection  and 
l)ie.servation  of  tiie  fnr  .seals  aliall  remain  in  force  until  they  have  been  in  whole  or  in 
part  abolished  or  modified  by  common  aH:reenu'nt  between  the  (lovernnicnts  ol  the 
Ignited  States  and  of  (ireat  Britain. 

The  said  concurrent  re{,'ulations  shall  be  subnutted  every  live  years  to  a  new 
examination,  so  as  to  enable  both  interested  Goveriunents  to  consider  whether  in  the 
light  of  past  experience  there  is  o(;casi()u  for  any  nioditicatioii  thereof. 


imci.tii.iTioss  MADF.  iiy  tuf.  TumrxAL  or  ah/u  ruATiox  Axn  i<i:i'i:iini:i>  to  the 
tioi  i:i!.\.\/i:.\rs  OF  riii'.  isitfi*  states  asi>  hheat  iiiutaix  fou  theih  coysm- 

KKATIOS. 

I  Kii^lisli  vtTsioii.] 

I. 

The  arbitratoi's  declare  that  the  ccmcurrent  regulations,  as  determined  upon  by 
the  Tribunal  of  Arbitration,  by  virtue  of  Article  VM  of  the  treaty  of  liie  liJtth  of 
February,  1.S92,  being  ai)i)licable  to  the  high  sea  only,  siionld,  in  their  opinion,  be 
supplemented  by  other  regulations  applicable  within  the  limits  of  the  sovereignty  of 
each  of  the  two  powers  interested  and  to  be  settled  by  their  common  agreement. 

II. 

In  view  of  the  critical  condition  to  which  it  appears  certain  that  the  race  of  fur 
seals  is  now  reduced  in  couseqtience  of  circumstances  not  fully  known,  the  arbitrators 
tiiink  fit  to  recommend  both  (lovernments  to  come  to  an  understanding  in  order  to 
prohibit  any  killing  of  fur  seals,  either  on  land  or  at  sea,  for  a  i)eriod  of  two  or  three 
years,  or  at  least  one  year,  subject  to  such  exceptions  as  the  two  Governments  uiight 
think  i)roper  to  a<lmit  of. 

Such  a  measure  might  be  recurred  to  at  occasional  intervals,  if  found  beneficial. 

III. 

The  arbitrators  declare  moreover  that,  in  their  ojiinion,  the  carrying  out  of  the 
regulations  determined  upon  by  the  Tribunal  of  Arbitration  shouhl  bo  assured  by  a 
system  of  sti])iilation8  and  measures  to  be  enacted  by  the  two  ijowers;  and  that  the 
tribunal  must,  in  consequence,  leave  it  to  .the  two  powers  to  decide  upon  the  means 
t'or  giving  effect  to  the  regulations  determined  upon  by  it. 


TEltMs    OF   THE    OHIO  IS  Al.    LEASE   OF    THE   SEAL    ISLAND  1(7/7/    THE  ALASKA    rOM- 

MEKCIAI.  COMPANY. 

This  iinlenture  in  dupli(!ate,  made  this  3d  day  of  August,  A.  1).  1870,  by  and 
between  William  A.  Richardson,  Acting  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  in  pursuance  of 
an  ac!t  cf  Congress  appioved  July  1, 1870,  entitled  "An  act  to  i)reventthe  extermina- 
tion of  fur-bearing  animals  in  Alaska,"  and  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company,  a 


TflK    I'lHBT   C'AHK. 


137 


li  beneticial. 


.ISKA    COM- 


(Mii'poiiitiDii  tliily  *^>4tal)lislK'(l  iiiidor  tlu>  laws  of  tlic  Stat«>  ()l'<  'aliforiiia,  aitin;;  l),v  •loliii 
I'.  Miller,  its  |ii'i>si(l<Mit  aiid  a;;i'iit,  in  at'cuidaiicc  witli  a  ri'sojiiliiiii  at  a  iiuM'tiii^  of  its 
board  of  trusU'cs,  lichl  .Imiiiary  .'M,  1S70,  witiicssctli : 

Tliaf  srtid  Secretary  licreby  leases  to  tlie  said  Alaska  (Utmmereial  <'oin|miiy, 
without  ]>ow«r  of  tiaiisfer,  for  the  t«Min  of  twenty  years  from  the  1st  day  of  May,  187(1, 
the  right  to  eiii^ii;;o  in  th«  business  of  taking  fur  seals  on  tiie  islnnds  of  St.  (ieorgti 
and  St.  I'aul  within  the  territory  of  Alaska,  atnl  to  send  a  vessel  or  vessols  to  said 
islands  for  the  skins  of  sueh  seals. 

And  the  suid  Alaska  Coininereial  (Company,  in  consideration  of  their  right  nniler 
this  lease,  hereby  covenant  and  agree  to  pay  for  each  year  durin;;  said  term,  and 
in  jji'oportion  during  any  i)art  thereof,  the  sum  of  )?r>r(,0()(i  into  the  'I'reasury  of  the 
Uidted  Stat«'s  in  accordance  with  the  regulations  of  the  Secretary  to  be  made  for 
this  purpose  under  said  act,  which  payment  shall  be  secured  by  deposit  of  Inited 
States  bonds  to  that  amount,  «.n  also  covenant  and  a^ree  to  pay  annually  into 
the  Treasury  of  the  United  States,  under  said  rules  ami  regulations,  an  internal- 
revenue  tax  or  duty  of  $2  tor  each  seal  skin  taken  and  shiiipcd  by  them  in 
accoidance  with  the  i)i'ovisions  of  the  act  aforesaid,  and  also  the  sum  of  «iliA  cents  for 
each  fur-seal  skin  taken  and  shipped,  and  ;>")  cents  per  gallon  for  each  gallon  of  oil 
obtained  from  said  seals,  for  sale  in  said  islands  or  elsewhere,  and  sold  by  said 
comjiany;  and  also  <'ovenantand  .gree,  in  accordance  with  said  rules  and  regulations, 
to  furnish,  free  of  charge,  the  iiduibitants  of  the  islamls  of  St.  I'aul  and  St.  (leorge 
annually  during  said  term  LC>,000  dried  salmon,  <»()  conls  of  tirewood,  and  a  siitHcient 
(|uaiitity  of  salt  and  a  sutlicient  quantity  of  barrels  for  preserving  the  necessary 
supply  of  meal. 

And  the  said  lessees  also  hereby  covenant  and  agree  during  the  term  aforesaid  to 
maintain  a  school  on  each  island,  in  accordance  with  said  rules  and  regulations,  and 
suitable  for  the  education  of  the  natives  of  said  islands,  for  a  period  of  not  less  than 
eight  months  in  each  year. 

And  the  said  lessees  further  covenant  and  agree  not  to  kill  upon  said  island  of 
St.  Paul  more  than  7r),()00  fur  seals,  and  upon  the  island  of  St.  (ieorge  not  more  than 
20,000  fur  seals  per  annum;  not  to  kill  any  fur  seal  \\\w\\  the  islands  aforesaid  in  any 
other  month  except  the  months  of  .lune,  July,  Sei)tember,  and  October  of  each  year; 
not  to  kill  said  .seals  at  any  time  by  use  of  firearms  or  means  tending  to  drive  said 
seals  from  said  islands;  not  to  kill  any  female  seals  or  seals  under  1  year  old;  not  to 
kill  any  seal  in  water  adjacent  to  said  islands,  or  on  the  beach,  clitt's,  or  rocks,  where 
they  haul  up  from  the  sea  to  renniin. 

And  the  said  lessees  further  covenant  and  agree  to  abide  by  any  restriction  or 
limitation  up<m  the  right  to  kill  seals  under  this  lease  that  the  act  prescribes  or  that 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  shall. judge  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  such  seals. 

And  Ihe  said  lessees  hereby  agree  that  they  will  not  in  any  way  sell,  traiisfcr,  or 
assign  this  lease,  and  that  any  transfer,  sale,  or  assignment  of  the  same  shall  be  void 
and  of  no  ett'ect. 

And  the  said  lessees  further  agree  to  furnish  to  the  several  masteis  of  the  vessels 
employed  by  them  certified  copies  of  this  lease,  to  be  presented  to  the  (iovernmont 
reveiuie  ofticers  for  the  time  being  in  charge  of  said  islands,  as  the  authority  of  said 
lessees  for  the  landing  and  taking  of  said  skins. 


23  M 


Tin;  Kilt  si:al8  ok  tiik  pkiiiilui'  islands. 


And  tliu  Hiiiil  I(<HH(M)M  rurtluM' coveimnt  and  agreu  tliat  tlit-y  or  IIi«mi'  atr«iits  shall 
not  k»'(4),  Hell,  luniisli,  j^ivf,  or  diHposti  of  any  diHtillod  spirituouH  liciiioiK  on  oitlier  of 
said  islands  to  any  of  lii<-  natives  Mnuoof,  sntdi  |M>r.son  not  bein^  a  physician  and 
furnishing  the  same  for  use  as  inedieine. 

And  the  said  lessees  further  eoveiutnt  and  atfioo  that  tliiH  U^ase  is  aceepted,  suhjeet 
to  all  needful  rules  and  re;;ulatioiis  whieli  shall  at  any  time  or  times  lieieaftei'  be  made 
by  the  hecretary  of  the  Treasury  for  the  eolleetion  and  ])aym(Mit  of  the  rental  herein 
aj?reed  to  be  ])aid  by  said  lessees  for  the  eonifort,  inaintainanee,  education,  and 
protei'tion  of  the  natives  of  said  islands,  and  for  earryiiif;  into  elVeet  all  the  i»rovisions 
of  the  aet  aforesaid,  and  will  altide  by  and  eonforni  to  said  rules  and  legulatioiis. 

And  tiie  said  lessees,  aeeeptinj;  this  lease  with  a  full  kn(»\vk'dj;e  of  the  i)rovisions 
of  the  aforesaiti  act  of  Ton^jress,  further  covenant  and  agree  that  they  will  fulfill  all 
the  provisions,  recpiiremonts,  and  limitations  of  said  act,  whether  herein  speeitically 
set  out  or  not. 

In  witness  whereof  the  parties  aforesaid  have  hereunto  set  their  hands  and  seals 
the  day  and  year  above  written. 

[SEAL. I  William  A.  Uiciiardson, 

Acthuj  Secretary  of  the  TredMitri/, 
[sKAL.|  Alaska  OoviVIkrcial  Comi'any, 

By  John  F.  Millku,  I'vexidenl. 
Executed  in  presence  of— 
J.  11.  Havillk. 


^ 


COPY  or  insTitAir  iti:T\\i:i:s  riii'.  iyiri:i>  sr.rncs    ixn  tiik  south  amijucas 

COMMEUCIAL    CO.UI'AyV,     ISIUCU     irillCIl    .SAID    COMI'AXV    IS    CrllASTKI)     Till: 

iixcLusivK  iminr  of  i'akinc,  fuii  seals   vpos  the  j'iiuulof  islaxds  ix 

ALASKA. 

This  indenture,  made  in  duplicate  this  twelfth  day  of  .March,  1890,  by  and  between 
William  Windom,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  Tnited  States,  in  i)ursuance  of 
chapter  .'{  of  title  2.1,  Revised  Statutes,  and  the  North  American  Commercial  <'onipaiiy, 
a  corp(M'ation  duly  established  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  California,  and  actiii}; 
by  1.  Lieb(!s,  its  president,  in  accordance  with  a  resolution  of  said  corporation  adopted 
at  a  meeting  of  its  board  of  directors  held  .laiiuary  1,  1890,  witnesseth: 

That  the  said  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  in  consideration  of  the  agreements 
hereitiafter  stated,  hereby  leases  to  the  said  North  American  Commercial  Company 
for  a  term  of  twenty  years,  from  the  first  (hiy  of  May,  18!tO,  the  exclusive  right  to 
engage  in  the  business  of  taking  fur  seals  on  the  islands  (»f  St.  (leorge  and  St.  Paul, 
in  the  Territory  of  Alaska,  and  to  send  a  vessel  or  vessels  to  said  islands  for  the  skins 
of  such  seals. 

The  said  North  American  Commercial  Company,  in  consideration  of  the  rights 
secured  to  it  under  this  lease  above  stated,  on  its  ]»art  covenants  and  agrees  to  do  the 
things  following,  that  is  to  say: 

To  pay  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  United  States  each  year  during  the  said  lerm  of 
twenty  years,  as  annual  rental,  the  sum  of  sixty  thousand  dollars,  and  in  addition 
thereto  agrees  to  pay  the  reveuue  tax,  or  duty,  of  two  dollars  laid  upon  each  fur-seal 


TMK    IMtDSKNT   CA8E. 


23!  • 


1 


■ills 


:i>    Tin: 

i.MiS   IS 


rif-lits 
<lo  the 

;erm  of 
addition 
fur-seal 


Hkiii  taken  jiiitl  .slii|i|)e*l  by  it  t'ruiii  suid  iMlaii(!.s  of  SI.  (ieoi'^u  and  St.  I'aul,  and  ulso 
to  pay  lo  said  Treasurer  the  further  sum  of  seven  tlollars  sixty-two  and  one  half 
cents  apuHH-  for  each  and  every  fur  seal  skin  taken  ami  shipped  from  said  islands,  find 
also  to  pay  the  sum  of  fifty  cents  per  gallon  lor  each  {{aUon  of  oil  sold  Ity  it  made 
from  seals  lliat  may  be  taken  on  said  islands  durin;-'  the  said  period  of  twenty  years; 
and  to  secure  the  pronipt  paynuMit  of  the  sixty  thousand  dollars  lentai  above  referred 
to,  the  said  company  agrees  to  dejxtsit  with  the  Secretary  of  tlie  Treasury  bonds  of 
the  IJiuted  States  to  the  amount  of  fifty  thousan<l  dollars,  face  value,  to  be  held  as  a 
{guarantee  for  tlu^  annual  payujent  of  said  sixty  thousand  dollars  rental,  the  interest 
thereon  whendiw  to  be  collected  and  paid  to  the  North  American  Commercial  (  ompany, 
provided  the  said  company  is  not  in  default  of  payment  of  any  i)art  of  the  said  sixty 
thousand  dollars  rental. 

That  it  will  furnish  to  the  native  inhabitants  of  sai<l  islands  of  St.  (leor^e  and 
St.  I'aul  annually  such  quantity  or  tiundKU'  of  dried  salmon,  and  such  (pnintity  ol  salt 
and  such  nund)er  of  salt  barrels  for  i)reservin{i  their  necessary  supi)ly  of  meat  as  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury  shall  from  time  to  time  determine. 

That  it  will  also  furnish  to  the  said  inhabitants  ei;>lity  tons  of  coal  annually,  and 
a  sullicient  number  of  comfortable  dwellinj;s  m  which  said  native  inhabitants  may 
reside;  ami  will  keep  said  dwelliiiffs  in  proper  rcii  lir;  and  will  also  provide  and  keej) 
in  rei)air  such  suital)le  schotdhouses  as  may  bt  necessary,  ami  will  establish  and 
luaiutain  during'  eiyht  months  of  each  ye'-  proper  schools  for  the  education  of  the 
children  on  said  islands,  the  same  to  be  ight  by  contp»'tent  teachers,  who  shall  be 
paid  by  the  comi>any  a  fair  compensation,  all  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Secretary  of 
Che  Treasury;  and  will  also  provide  and  mnintuin  a  suitable  liouso  for  religious 
worship;  and  will  also  provide  a  competent  physician  or  idiysicians,  and  ne<'essary 
and  proper  medicines  ami  medical  supplies;  and  will  also  provide  liie  necessaries  of 
life  for  the  widows  and  orphans  and  a^ed  ami  intirm  inhabitants  of  said  islands  who 
are  unable  to  provide  for  themselves  ;  all  of  which  foregoing  agreeiiieiits  will  be  done 
and  perfornuMl  by  the  said  company  free  of  all  costs  and  charges  to  said  nati\e 
inhabitants  of  said  islands  («•  to  the  llnited  States. 

The  annual  rental,  together  with  all  other  payments  to  the  i'nited  States  jnovidcd 
for  in  this  lease,  shall  be  made  and  paid  on  or  before  the  1st  day  of  April  of  each  and 
every  year  duriug  the  existence  of  this  lease,  beginning  with  the  1st  day  of  April,  18!U. 

The  said  company  further  agrees  to  employ  the  native  inhabitants  of  said  islands 
to  perform  sucdi  labor  upon  the  islands  as  they  are  fitted  to  perform,  and  to  i)ay 
therefor  a  fair  and  just  compensation,  sutdi  as  nuiy  be  fixed  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  aiul  also  to  contribute,  as  far  as  is  in  its  ixtwer,  all  reasonable  efforts  to 
secure  the  comfort,  health,  education,  and  promote  the  morals  and  civilization  of  saiti 
iiLHive  inhabitants. 

The  said  company  also  agrees  faithfully  to  obey  and  abide  liy  all  rules  and  regula- 
tions that  the  Secretaiy  of  the  Treasury  has  heretofore  or  may  hereafter  establish  or 
make  in  i)ursuance  of  law  concerning  the  taking  of  seals  of  said  islands,  and  (ioncerning 
the  comfort,  morals,  and  other  interests  of  said  inhabitants,  and  all  matters  pertaining 
to  said  islands  and  the  taking  of  seals  within  the  possession  of  the  United  States.  It 
also  agrees  to  obey  and  abide  by  any  restrictions  or  lindtations  upon  the  right  to  kill 
seals  that  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  shall  judge  necessary,  under  the  law,  for  the 
preservation  of  the  seal  fisheries  of  the  United  States;  and  it  agrees  that  it  will  not 


I 


'  f.'.i H^K'lwirw.vH  nm.u.nt!^  F.J""lt. 


f- 


fi 


240 


TlIK    rUI{    SKALS    OF   THK    I'KIBILOF    ISLANDS. 


kill  or  peiniit  to  be  killed,  so  far  as  it  can  pieveut,  in  auy  year  a  greater  iiuinbur  of 
seals  than  is  autliori/ed  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasnry. 

The  said  company  further  iigrees  that  it  will  not  perndt  any  of  its  agents  to  keep, 
sell,  give,  or  dispose  of  any  distilled  spirits  or  spirituous  liquors  or  opium,  on  either 
of  said  islands,  (»r  t-.<3  waters  adjacent  thereto,  to  any  of  the  native  inhabitants  of  said 
islands,  such  person  not  being  a  physicitin  and  furnishing  the  same  for  use  as  a 
medicnie. 

It  is  understood  and  agreed  that  the  number  of  fur  seals  to  be  taken  and  killed  for 
their  skins  upon  said  islands  by  the  North  American  Commercial  Company  during  the 
year  ending  j\Iay  1,  l.S!»l,  shall  not  exceed  ()(»,0(M». 

The  Secretary  of  the  Treasuiy  reserves  the  right  to  terminate  this  lease  and  all 
rights  of  the  North  American  Commercial  Company  under  the  same  at  any  time,  on 
full  and  satisfactory  proof  that  ihe  said  company  has  violated  any  of  the  i)rovisioii8 
and  agreements  of  this  lease,  or  any  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  or  any  Treasury 
regulation  respecting  the  taking  of  fur  seals,  or  concerning  the  islands  of  St.  (leorge 
and  St.  Paul,  or  the  inhabitants  thereof. 

In  witness  whereof  the  i)arties  have  set  their  hainls  and  seals  the  day  and  year 
above  written. 

|SKAi..|  William  Windom,  ISixtrlary  of  ihe  Treasury. 

[seal. I  North  American  Commercial  Company, 

By  I.  LiKHKS, 
I'rcsident  of  the  North  Amermni  (lommereUil  dompuiii/. 
Attest: 

II.  I>.  Parsons,  AsHintant  Seeretury. 


THE  v(>xri:iti:\ci-:  or  riiisKAL  i:.\i'/:i{i\s. 

The  Conference  of  Kur-Seal  Experts,  representing  (heat  Britain,  Canada,  and 
the  United  States,  convened  at  the  city  of  Washington,  November  10,  1807.  The 
foll(twing  were  tiie  delegates:  On  the  part  of  Great  iiritain.  Prof.  D'Arcy  Went  worth 
Thompson;  on  the  part  of  ('anada,  Mr.  James  Melville  Macoun:  on  the  i)art  of  the 
United  States,  Hon.  Charles  Sumner  Hamlin  and  Dr.  David  Starr  .Jordan. 

Mr.  Hamlin  was  chosen  president  of  the  Conference,  and  Mr.  (leorge  A.  (Jlark, 
secretary  of  Stanford  University,  ami  Mr.  Robert  N.  Venning,  of  the  department  of 
nnirine  an<l  fisheries  of  Canada,  were  appointed  joint  secretaries. 

Hon.  John  NV.  Foster,  sjjetaal  commissioner  in  charge  of  the  fur-seal  matter  for 
the  United  States,  and  Sir  Louis  H.  Davies,  minister  of  marine  and  fisheries  for 
Canada,  and  Mr.  (".  F.  Frederick  Adam,  «)f  the  British  legation,  attended  the  sessions 
of  the  Conference. 

After  due  deliberaticm,  on  November  Id,  the  C«»nference  agreeil  to  and  duly  signed 
the  ftdlowing  joint  statement  of  conclusions: 

JOINT    STATEMENT    OF  CONCLUSIONS    RESPECTlN(i   TIIE   Fl  R-SKAL    HERD   FRE 
yrENTING  TIIE  I'RIBILOF   ISLANDS   IN   UEKIN(f   SEA. 

The  undersigned,  duly  empowered  <lelegales,  engaged  during  recent  years  in  the 
investigation  of  the  condition  and  habits  «tf  the  fur-seal  herd  fretjueiit  ing  the  Pribilof 


'iiUUl..liiX.iU.I 


UJUUUJU  L  JJII  ^«i.iii 


iiunibor  of 

its  to  keep, 
,  on  eitlier 
lilts  of  said 
r  use  as  a 

I  killed  toi' 
during-  the 

asc  and  all 
ly  time,  on 
provisions 
y  Treasury 
St.  (Jeorge 

y  aud  year 

lNY, 

Uniiptiiii/. 


nadit,  and 

897.     The 

en  t  worth 

t  of  the 

A.  <Jhuk, 
rtnient  of 

latter  tor 
heries  for 

sessions 

ily  signed 


1)   FKE 

iirs  in  the 
e  I'ribilof 


JOINT    8TATi:.MENT    OF    CONCLUSIONS. 


241 


Islands  in  lieriug  Sea,  viz,  on  behalf  of  the  United  States,  Charles  Sunmer  Ilaiidin  and 
David  Starr -lordan ;  on  behalf  of  (heat  Britain,  D'Arey  Wentworth  Tlioinpsoii;  on 
behalf  of  Canada,  James  Melville  Maeoun,  have  met  in  (lonference  under  instructions 
from  our  respective  Governments.  Under  these  instructions  we  were  directed  "to 
arrive,  if  possible,  at  correct  c(»nelusions  respecting  the  numbers,  cuuditions,  and 
habits  of  the  seals  frequenting  the  Pribilof  Islands  at  the  present  time  as  compared 
with  the  several  seasons  previous  and  subse<iue:it  te  the  Paris  award." 

As  a  residt  "f  such  conference,  now  completed,  we,  the  above-named  Ch;irle8 
Sumner  Hamlin,  David  Starr  Jordan,  D'Arey  Wentworth  Thompson,  and  .lames 
Melville  Maeoun,  And  ourselveii  in  accord  on  the  propositions  contained  in  the 
following  Joint  statement  of  conclusions  respecting  the  fur-seal  herd  frequenting  the 
Pribilof  Islands,  and  make  this  our  report: 

.JOINT   STATKMKNT. 

1.  There  is  adeciuate  evidence  that  since  the  y«'ar  1.S81,  and  down  to  the  date  (»f 
the  inspection  of  the  rookeries  in  1807,  the  fur  seal  herd  of  tiie  I'ribilof  Islands,  as 
measured  ©neither  the  hauling  grounds  or  breeding  grounds,  has  declined  in  numbers 
at  a  rate  varying  from  year  to  year. 

2.  In  the  absence  for  the  earlier  years  of  actual  (lonnts  ;»i  the  rookeries  su(!h  as 
have  been  made  in  recent  years,  the  best  approximate  measure  of  detliiu!  now 
available  is  found  in  these  facts: 

(a)  About  100,000  male  seals  of  recognized  killable  age  were  obtained  from  the 
hauling  grounds  each  year  from  1871  to  1889.  The  table  of  statistics  given  in 
Appeiulix  1  shows,  on  the  whole,  a  progressive  iiu-iease  in  the  number  of  hauling 
grounds  driven  and  in  the  number  of  drives  made,  as  well  as  a  retardation  of  the  date 
at  which  the  (juota  was  attained  during  a  nund)er  of  years  previous  to  iss'.t. 

(b)  In  the  year  1896,  28,904  killable  seals  were  taken  after  continuing  the  driving 
till  .luly  27,  and  in  1897,  19,189  after  continuing  the  driving  till  August  1 1.'  We  have 
no  reason  to  believe  that  during  tlie  period  189(i  and  1897  a  very  much  larger  number 
of  males  of  n'coguized  killable  age  ccuild  have  been  taken  on  the  hauling  grounds. 

The  reduction  between  the  years  18iMi  and  1897  in  the  number  of  killable  seals 
taken,  while  an  indication  of  decrease  in  the  breeding  herd,  can  not  l>e  taken  as  ari 
actual  measure  of  such  decrease.  A  number  of  other  factors  nuist  be  taken  into 
consideration,  aud  the  real  measure  of  decrease  must  be  sought  in  nntre  jiertinent 
statistics  drawn  from  the  breeding  rookeries  themselves. 

.'5.  From  these  data  it  is  plain  that  the  former  yield  of  the  hanling  grounds  of  the 
I'ribilof  Islaiuls  was  from  three  to  live  times  as  great  as  in  the  years  189(5  and  1897, 
and  the  same  diminution  to  one  third  or  oiie-tifth  of  the  ibrinei  product  may  be 
assumed  when  we  include  also  the  results  of  hunting  at  sea. 

I.  The  death  rate  among  the  young  fur  seals,  especially  among  the  imii)s,  is  very 
great.  While  the  loss  among  the  pups  prior  to  their  departure  frouj  the  islaiuls  has 
been  found  in  the  last  two  years  to  approach  20  per  cent  of  the  whole  number  born, 
ari!  though  the  rate  of  stibseipient  mortality  is  unkiutwn,  we  may  gather  from  the 

'  The  nomiiiul  quota  of  30,000  for  ISiHi  and  of  20,8t)0  for  1807  iiicliuleil  fiioil  sl<iiis  tal<oii  in  the  fill 
of  is:)3  and  ISOO.     (Thosn  tijjuros,  L'8,9()4  and  10,1S9,  are  slightly  iu  error  and  should  rund  rosiiectively 
a8,:<65  audl8,it()l.) 
15184 16 


Iff 


242 


THE    FUR   SEALS  OP   THE   PRIBILOP   ISLANDS. 


ii 


H      ' 

V 

■[-.i     i 

1.1 

■ 

1 

II 

muuher  vrliicb  return  eiich  year  that  from  oue-balf  to  two  thirds  liave  perished  before 
the  age  of  three  years — that  is  to  say,  the  killable  aye  for  tlte  males  and  the  breeding 
age  for  the  females. 

5.  Tlie  chief  natural '  causes  of  death  among  pups,  so  far  us  known  at  present,  are 
as  follows,  the  importance  of  each  being  variable  and  more  or  less  uncertain : 

(a)  Ravages  of  the  parasitic  worm  Uncitiaria,  most  destructive  on  sandy  breeding 
areas  and  during  the  period  from  July  15  to  August  20. 

(b)  Trampling  by  fighting  bulls  or  by  moving  bulls  and  cows,  a  source  of  loss 
greatest  among  young  pups.'' 

(v)  Starvation  of  pups  strayed  or  separated  from  their  mothers  when  very  young 
or  whose  mothers  have  died  from  natural  causes. 

{(1)  The  ravages  of  the  great  killer  (Orca),  known  to  be  fatal  to  many  of  the  young 
and  x)erhaps  also  to  older  seals. 

At  a  later  period  drowning  in  the  storms  of  winter  is  believed,  but  not  certainly 
known,  to  be  a  cause  of  death  among  the  older  pups. 

(i.  Counts  of  certain  rookeries,  with  partial  counts  and  estimates  of  others,  show 
that  the  number  of  breeding  females  bearing  pups  on  St.  Paul  and  St.  George  was, 
in  l.SDC  and  1807,  between  lfiO,000  and  130,000,  more  nearly  approaching  the  higher 
ligure  in  1806  and  the  lower  in  1897.  •' 

7.  On  certain  rookeries,where  pups  were  counted  in  both  seasons,  10,241  being 
found  in  1896  and  14,318  in  1897,  or  applying  a  count  adopted  by  Professor  Thompson, 
14,."43  in  the  latter  year,  there  is  evident  a  decrease  of  9  or  12  i)er  cent  within  the 
twelvemonth  in  question.  The  count  of  pups  is  the  most  trustworthy  measure  of 
numerical  variation  in  the  herd.  The  counts  of  harems,  and  especially  of  cows 
present,  are  much  inferior  in  value.  The  latter  counts,  however,  point  in  the  same 
direction.  The  harems  on  all  the  rookeries  were  counted  in  both  seasons.  In  1890 
there  were  4,932;  in  1897  there  were  4,418,  a  decrease  of  10,41  per  cent.  The  cows 
actually  present  on  certain  rookeries  at  the  height  of  the  season  were  counted  in  both 
seasons.  Where  10,198  were  found  in  1890,  7,307  were  found  in  1897,  a  decrease  of 
28.34  per  ceut.^ 

8.  It  is  not  easy  toapply  the  various  counts  in  the  form  of  a  general  average  to 
all  the  rookeries  of  the  islands.   We  recognize  that  a  notable  decrease  has  been  suffered 

'  That  is  to  say,  nut  inoliidiuji;  loBxes  onHuin^  from  tho  killing  of  mothers  at  soa. 

Thu  numbur  of  dead  pups  counted  ou  the  rookerius  between  August  K  and  14,  in  1S!)(>,  was  11,045. 
It  is  rei'ogiii/uil  that  this  number  is  an  uuderostimate,  inasmucli  as  a  greater  number  must  liave  beei, 
overlooked  than  were  counted  twice.  It  is  also  recognized  that  tho  great  miijority  of  these  pups 
died  from  the  attacks  of  tho  worm  Uncinaria. 

^Tho  importance  of  this  source  of  loss  wo  now  iind  to  be  much  less  than  was  supposed  to  be  the 
case  from  the  investigations  nmde  in  1^96.  (See  Reports  for  18%,  Jordan,  i*.  45;  Thoiupson,  p.  L'O; 
Macoun,  MSS.) 

Tor  detailed  a<'count  of  the  census  uf  1896,  see  Jordan,  Preliminary  Report  for  18W),  p.  15; 
Thompson,  Report  for  1890,  p.  19;  Macoun,  Report,  1896,  M88.  For  a  discussion  of  suggested 
corrections  to  the  census  of  1896,  see  Jordan,  Final  Report,  1897.  For  details  of  the  cousub  of  1897,  see 
Thompson,  Report,  1897;  Macoun,  Report,  1897;  Jordan,  Report,  1897.  A  correction  to  be  made  in 
tho  census  uf  1896  arises  from  tho  agreed  ossumptiou  that  the  total  number  of  breeding  females  was 
1.75  times  the  number  seen  in  the  height  of  the  season.  Later  observations  tihow  that  the  actual 
total  is  at  least  twice  the  maximum  number  over  seen  at  once  on  a  rookery. 

<The  extreme  irregularity  of  the  number  of  cows  present  on  the  rookeries  from  day  to  day  and 
the  euusei|uent  invalidity  of  any  comparison  of  their  number  is  shown  by  the  counts  made  on  Lukanin 
and  Kituvi  rookeries  during  the  season  of  1897.    See  Appendix  II. 


*ve  perished  before 
8  iintl  the  breeding 

own  iit  present,  are 

uneertain: 

on  siuidy  breeding 

8,  a  source  of  h»ss 

i  wlien  very  young 

many  of  the  young 

,  luit  not  certainly 

C8  of  others,  show 
id  iSt.  (ireorge  was, 
iiehing  the  higher 

sons,  10,^41  being 
jfessor  Thompson, 
[•  cent  within  tlie 
■orthy  measure  of 
specially  of  cows 
oint  in  the  same 
reasons.  In  18(t6 
cent.  The  cows 
e  counted  in  both 
!>7,  a  decrease  of 

neral  average  to 
has  been  suffered 

HCil. 

in  !«!«!,  was  11,045. 
I)t)r  must  have  lioci. 
ority  of  thi:so  pujus 

supposed  to  be  tlie 
Thompson,  p.  20; 

ort  for  18tMi,  p.  15 ; 
Bsiou  of  suj^gestoU 
census  of  1897,  see 
on  to  be  made  in 
ding  femah'8  was 
w  that  this  actual 

ini  day  to  day  and 
imatleonLukaniu 


JOINT  STATEMENT   OP   CONCLUSIONS 


243 


by  the  herd  during  the  twelvemonth  1890  to  1897,  without  attempting,  save  by  setting 
the  above  numbers  on  record,  to  ascribe  to  the  decrease  more  precise  figures. 

9.  The  mctho'Vs  of  driving  and  killing  practiced  on  the  islands,  as  they  have  come 
under  our  observation  during  the  past  two  years,  call  for  no  criticism  or  objection. 
An  adequate  supply  of  bulls  is  present  on  the  rookeries;  the  number  of  older  bachelors 
rejected  in  the  drives  during  the  period  in  (luestiou  is  such  as  to  safeguard  in  the 
immediate  future  a  similarly  adequate  supply;  the  breeding  bulls,  females,  and  pups 
on  the  breeding  rookeries  are  not  disturbed ;  there  is  no  evidence  or  sign  of  impairment, 
by  driving,  of  the  virility  of  males;  the  operations  of  driving  and  killing  are  conducted 
skillfully  and  without  inhumanity. 

10.  The  pelagic  iiulustry  is  conducted  in  an  orderly  manner  and  in  a  spirit  of 
acciuiescence  in  the  limitations  imposed  by  the  law. 

11.  I'elagic  sealing  involves  the  killing  of  males  and  females  alike,  without 
discrimination  and  in  proportion  as  the  two  vsexes  coexist  in  the  sea.  The  reduction 
of  males  effected  on  the  islands  causes  an  enhaiu;ed  i)roi)ortion  of  females  to  be  found 
in  the  ])elagic  catch;  hence  this  proportion,  if  it  vary  from  no  other  (.'ause,  varies  .it 
least  with  the  catch  ujmn  the  islands.  In  1895  Mr.  A.  J'..  Alexander,  on  behalf  of 
the  Government  of  the  LTidted  States,  found  ()2.;{  per  cent  of  femalcT  in  the  (tatch  of 
the  Pom  Sietcerd  in  IJering  Sea,  and  in  1896  Mr.  Andrew  Ualkett,  on  behalf  of  the 
Canadian  government,  found  M.2  in  the  catch  of  the  same  schooner  in  the  same  sea. 
There  are,  no  doubt,  instances,  especially  in  the  season  of  migration  and  on  tlie  course 
of  the  migrating  herds,  of  catches  containing  a  very  different  proportion  of  the  two 
sexes. 

12.  The  largo  proportion  of  fenuiles  in  the  pelagic  catch  includes  not  only  adult 
females  that  are  both  nursing  and  pregnant,  but  also  young  seals  that  aie  not 
pregn.aut,  and  others  that  have  not  yet  brought  forth  young,  witii  such  also  as  have 
recently  lost  their  young  through  the  various  causes  of  mitural  mortality.' 

13.  The  polygamous  habit  of  the  animal,  coupled  with  an  equal  birth  rate  of  the 
two  sexes,  permits  a  large  number  of  males  to  be  removed  with  inqninity  from  the 
herd,  while,  as  with  other  animals,  any  similar  abstraction  of  females  checks  or 
lessens  the  herd's  increase,  or,  when  carried  further,  brings  about  an  actual  diminution 
of  the  herd.  It  is  equally  plain  that  a  certain  number  of  females  maybe  killed 
M'ithout  involving  the  actual  diminution  of  the  herd,  if  the  number  killed  do  not 
exceed  the  annual  increment  of  the  breeding  herd,  taking  into  consideration  the 
annual  losses  by  death  through  old  age  and  through  incidenis  at  sea. 

14.  While,  whether  from  a  consideration  of  the  birth  rate  or  from  an  inspection 
of  the  visible  effects,  it  is  manifest  that  the  take  of  females  in  recent  yeai's  lias  been 
so  far  in  excess  of  the  natural  increment  as  to  lead  to  a  reduction  of  the  In-rd  in  the 
degree  related  above,  yet  the  ratio  of  the  pelagic  catch  of  one  year  to  that  of  the 
following  has  fallen  off  more  rapidly  than  the  ratio  of  the  breeding  herd  of  one  year 
to  the  breeding  herd  of  the  next." 


'Statements  on  whicli  to  base  an  estimate  of  the  relative  nuniberH  of  these  suvi'i*!  classrs  are 
necessarily  incomplete,  but  the  following  notes  may  st'fvc  as  a  partial  nmdc :  Townsenu,  Report,  1895 
pp.  46,  47;  Alexander,  Report,  1895,  pp.  142,  143;  Macoun.  Heport.  1897,  MS.**. ;  Liiciis,  Krport,  1897,  MSs! 

-The  catch  of  the  pelagic  lleet,  Canadian  and  American,  in  1897  in  Kering  Si'a  was  10,(i.")7  sualH. 
In  the  aammor  of  189(i  it  was  29,.j00.  Thu  aggregate  catch  which  directly  intluenced  the  herd  of  1897 
was  38,922,  a  number  made  uj>  by  adding  to  the  siimnier's  catch  of  189G  the  northwest  coast  catch  in 
the  spring  of  1897.     Tp  to  the  present  time,  accordingly,  the  pelagic  catch  already  taken  (l(i,657),  and 


1^ 


l< 


\       ? 

i.. 


I  i 


244 


THE    I'UK   SEALS    OF   TlIK    I'UIHILOF    ISLANDS. 


I.">.  Ill  this  greater  roductiou  of  the  jielagic  catcli,  conipaii'd  witli  tlie  gradual 
decrease  of  the  herd,  there  is  a  tendency  toward  equilibrium,  or  a  stage  at  which  the 
iiiiinbers  of  the  breeding  herd  would  neither  increase  or  decrease.  In  considering 
the  jirobable  size  of  the  herd  in  the  immediate  future,  there  remains  to  be  estimated 
the  a(UlitionaI  factor  of  decline  resulting  from  reductions  in  the  number  of  surviving 
l)Ui>s  caused  by  the  larger  pelagic  catch  of  1804  and  l.S!»5. 

l(i.  The  diminution  of  the  herd  is  yet  far  from  a  stage  which  involves  or  threatens 
the  actual  extermination  of  the  species,  so  long  as  it  is  protected  in  its  haunts  on  land. 
It  is  not  possible  during  the  continuance  of  the  conservative  methods  at  present  in 
force  upon  the  islands,  with  the  further  safeguard  of  the  i)rotected  zone  at  sea,  that 
any  pelagic  killing  should  accomplish  this  tinal  end.  There  is  evidence,  however, 
that  in  its  ])resent  condition  the  herd  yields  an  inconsiderable  return  either  to  the 
lessees  of  the  islands  or  to  the  owners  of  the  pelagic  fleet. 

Note:  The  tables  referred  to  in  this  joint  stiitemeiit  us  Ajtpenilix  I  iniil  II  are  alreiuly  ]>rintud  in 
A]>pendix  I  of  this  I'oport  (pp.  211  and  212)  and  need  not  bo  repeated  bere. 


M 


,    H3a: 

■ 

.  1 

il 

1 

■.  ■■-■<: 

.; 

■t 

AFFinAvrTS  or  nvKus  axu  Diii:ssKiifi  or  vru-SKAh  skixs. 

The  following  atlidavits  of  dyers  and  dressers  of  fur-seal  skins,  submitted  to  the 
conference  of  fur-seal  experts,  may  here  be  placed  on  record : 

QfKEN  STREET,  London,  A'.  ('. 

I,  (ieo.  Uice,  of  the  city  of  London,  England,  make  oath  and  say  that  I  carry  on  the  bnsiness  of 
il  dyer  and  dresser  of  fnrs  and  seal  skins  in  this  city;  that  I  have  been  engaged  In  the  si^al-skin  trade 
for  over  tliirty  years  and  have  jjersoual  aiul  ]iractical  e.\i)e!ienee  in  the  various  processes  of  dressing 
an<l  dyeing  skins;  that  I  employ  5(X)  men  in  my  bnsiness;  that  of  the  seal  skins  tliat  have  been  taken 
in  the  waters  of  the  North  racilic  Ocean  and  Heriiig  Sea  by  sealing  vessels  1  have  dressed  or  dyed  the 
skins  of  the  iielagic  catch  of  18(.l,  8,'),(X)0  skins;  189."),  70,000  skins;  ISiMJ,  .')0,(XM1  skins. 

That  I  personally  and  tliiouiih  my  expert  employees  have  had  every  opportnnity  of  examining 
these  skins;  that   a   part  of  them,    being  those   of  pnps  or  young    seals,  are  not  with   certainty 
dislingnisbable  as  to  sex,  but  the  greater  ]iortionof  the  skins  can  be  readily  determined;  that  of 
these  latter,  I'mbracing  the  pelagii'  catches  of  1894,  18tl.T,  80  per  cent,  and  of  IStlO.  70  to  80  per  cent, 
were  the  skins  of  females;  that  of  the  skins  of  adult  seals  in  these  catches,  the  skins  of  males  w 
rarely  found.     I  further  say  that    I   make   this   declaratiiui   in   the   interest  of  truth  and   for  tu 
information  of  thiwe  who  are  concerned  in  making  regulations  for  the  preservation  of  the  seal  herd 
and  I  make  this  solemn  declaration  conscientiously  believing  the  same  to  he  true. 

(iEO.    KlCE. 

Sworn  to  at  ''The  Elms,"  Edmimtou,  iu  the  county  of  Middlesex,  this  2t)th  day  of  October,  1897, 

before  me. 

Ai.FHEi)  H()D(;kinm)X, 

J  Commhuionir  for  (hillis. 

1,  Edmund  Wischhusen,  of  138  New  North  road,  Islington,  in  the  county  of  London,  seal  dresser 
au<l  unhairer,  .solemnly  and  siucendy  declare  as  follows: 

I.  I  have  been  engaged  in  the  seal-skin  trade  for  over  thirty-five  years.  I  have  actually  worked 
on  seals  for  the  last  forty  years,  and  on  the  Heriug  Sea  seal  ever  since  they  have  been  brought  to 
market.  I  have  had  personal  and  practical  experience  iu  the  various  processes  of  dressing  :iud 
nnhairing  seal  skius  during  that  period.     I  have  been  regularly  employed  as  an  expert  by  tlie  largest 

operating  directly  against  uext  year's  supply,  is  57.22  per  cent  less  than  the  pelagic  catch  which 
operated  against  the  supply  of  1897  (see,  also.  Appendix  I);  or,  if  we  compare  merely  the  summer 
catches,  inasmuch  as  the  possible  spring  catch  of  1898  is  an  unknown  factor,  we  have  :<  reduction  of 
43,'lti  per  cent,  (Later  and  more  accurate  returns  show  the  tignres  here  given  for  the  pelagic  catch  of 
1897  to  be  slightly  iu  error.    The  Bering  .Sea  catch  should  be  16.104  and  the  complete  catch  39,110.) 


th  tlio  j^radual 
y;e  at  wliich  the 
In  considoriii}? 
to  be  estimated 
)ei'  of  surviving 

i^esor  threatens 
haunts  on  hind. 
8  at  present  in 
ine  at  sea,  that 
ienoe,  however, 
u  either  to  the 

already  i)riiitud  in 


.VS. 

ubniitted  to  the 

IT,  London,  E.  ('. 

im  the  business  of 
the  HiMil-skiii  trade 
ocesses  of  dreBsiiig 
lit  have  Im'cii  taken 

ressed  or  (lyed  the 

18. 

nity  of  examining 
(it  with  certainty 
tei'Uiined  ;  that  of 

70  to  SO  per  Cfiit. 
Lins  of  niah'8  w  , 
ruth  and   for  tii 

of  the  seal  herd. 

(iE(J.    KiCE. 

of  OctobiT,  181t7, 

ilNMIX, 

•ioiiiy  for  Odilis. 
iidou.  seal  dresser 

actually  worked 
been  brougiit  to 
f  dressing  .lud 
rt  by  tlie  largest 

igic  cateh  which 

rely  the  suinnier 

ve  ■I  reduction  of 

pelagic  catch  of 

catch  39,110.) 


\\ 


SKX    OF   SALTED   SKINS. 


245 


fur  merchants  in  London  to  examine  the  skins  as  they  arrive  from  the  pelagic  sealers,  at  Messrs. 
('.  M.  Lauipsons  \  Soiin',  of  tSI  (^ueen  street,  in  the  city  of  London,  at  the  Hudson  Hay  Company's 
liremises  in  ijimo  street,  iind  at  Messrs.  Ciilverwell  it  Hrooks's,  at  St.  Mary  -Vxe.  These  are  the  only 
firms  to  wliom  seal  skins  hav»!  been  sent  for  sale  during  the  last  few  years.  I  inspect  them  in  order 
to  determine  the  i|uality  and  condition  of  tlie  skins,  and  it  is  my  business  to  report  to  the  merchants 
from  time  to  time  the  (|iiality  of  the  skins,  and  the  merchants  act  on  my  report.  From  my  personal 
inspection  in  this  way  I  am  able  to  say  that  fully  SO  per  cent  of  the  skins  which  have  arrived  from 
the  pelagic  seahirs  during  the  la.st  three  years  are  the  skins  of  female  seals.  Of  the  i:ri,O00.  or 
thereabouts,  of  the  jielagic  northwest  catch  of  1891,  fully  120,000  came  under  my  notice  and  were 
examined  by  mo;  and  of  tlie  101.',000,  or  thereabouts,  of  the  like  catch  of  1S!1."),  about  IOO.(HMI  came 
under  my  notice  and  were  examined  by  me;  and  of  the  70,000  forming  the  like  pelagic  cateh  of  lS9(i, 
the  wlnde  parcel  came  under  my  notice  and  were  examined  by  me. 

2.  There  is  absolutely  no  diOiculty  whatever  in  distinguishing  the  sex  of  the  adult  seals  as, 
apart  from  all  other  distinctions  (and  there  are  several,  as  for  instance,  a  dilfereuce  in  thosize  and  shape 
of  the  head  and  also  in  tlio  color),  the  distinction  in  the  breast  is  very  marked,  those  of  the  females 
being  very  largo  iMid  prominent,  and  those  of  the  males  hardly  distinguishable.  It  re(|uires  no  cx|iert 
to  distinguish  the  sex.  In  most  instances  the  hair  round  the  nipples  of  the  female  seals  has  been 
worn  off  by  the  young  pups. 

The  only  reason  there  is  a  doubt  as  to  the  sex  of  the  remaining  20  per  cent  of  the  skins  is  that 
about  this  proportion  art*  the  skins  of  very  young  animals  in  which,  the  breasts  and  heads  not  being 
fully  developed,  the  sex  is  not  so  easily  distinguishable,  but  this  only  applies  to  young  pujis  and  not 
in  any  way  to  adult  seals. 

There  is  no  dilliculty  whatever  in  identifying  the  Bering  t<eii  seals  from  those  caught  on  the  coast 
of  Jajian  and  round  or  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Copjier  Islands. 

.\nd  I  make  this  solemn  declaration,  conscientiously  believing  the  same  to  be  true,  and  by  virtue 
of  the  provisions  of  the  statutory  declarations  act  of  1835. 

E.    WlSt'lIIIfSKN. 

Declared  at  No.  138  New  North  road,  in  the  county  of  London,  on  this  2t!th  day  of  October.  1897, 
before  me. 

.loilN  Vknn',  yotari/  I'libliv. 

NoTK. — Attached  thereto  are  the  ofticial  certificates  of  .lohn  Venn,  notary  public,  of  the  city  of 
London,  and  William  M.  Osborne,  consul-general  of  the  United  States,  with  their  otticial  seals. 

I,  Walter  Kdwanl.  Martin,  of  t  Lambeth  Hill,  in  the  city  of  Loudon,  member  of  the  tirm  of 
C.  W.  Martin  A  Sons,  of  the  same  place,  fur  dyers  and  dresseis,  solemnly,  sincerely,  and  truly  declare 
as  follows: 

1  am  a  British  subject.  I  have  been  in  the  business  of  dyeing  and  dressing  fur-seal  skins  in 
Loudon  about  twenty-five  years,  and  have  personally  handled  many  hundreds  of  thousands  of  such 
skins,  and  I  have  in  consc(|uenee  a  special  knowledge  of  seal  skins. 

I  have  at  various  times  made  a  special  examination  of  the  skins  of  the  northwest  (pelagic)  catch 
of  seals  (a  very  large  number  of  which  come  through  my  lirm's  hands)  with  a  view  to  ascertaining 
whether  they  are  the  skins  of  male  or  female  seals,  and  I  say  that  of  the  seals  caught  in  the  lieriiig 
.Sea  and  in  the  North  I'acitic  Ocean  by  the  pelagic  sealers  fully  80  per  cent  of  them  are  female  seals, 
and  I  believe  a  still  larger  proportion.  The  remaining  20  per  cent  are  mostly  skins  of  young  pups  in 
which  the  sex  is  not  very  distiuguishable,  and  a  few  large  bulls,  not  more  than  about  3  per  cent  of 
the  entire  parcel. 

With  regard  to  adult  seals,  there  is  no  dilliculty  whatever  in  detecting  the  skins  of  males  and 
the  skins  of  f'ei'ales.  The  breasts  are  very  ])rominent  in  the  female  .seals,  and  it  reipiires  no  expert 
to  detect  which  is  the  skin  of  a  male  seal  anil  which  the  skin  of  a  female  seal,  and  very  often  round 
the  breasts  of  the  females  the  fur  has  been  worn  away.  The  regulations  of  the  arbitrators,  made  In 
August,  18!I3,  at  I'aris,  witii  regard  to  pelagic  sealing  have  not  tended  to  in  any  way  diminish  the 
proportion  of  female  seals  to  males  killed  by  the  pelagic  sealers,  and  the  large  majority  of  the  skins 
of  the  pelagic  catch  still  bear  traces  of  the  seals  having  been  killed  by  means  of  shot. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  a  continuation  of  the  present  system  of  slaughtering  such 
a  large  proportion  of  the  female  seals  in  the  open  ocean,  with  the  consequential  death  of  such  a  large 
proportion  of  pups,  as  is  admitted  by  I'rof.  D'Arcy  Thompson  in  his  recent  report  to  bo  due  to  pelagic 


If.   I 


If' 


'II 


■  ;!l 


1  !| 


.'1 
.  1 

.    ' 

1             s 

1       ; 

i 

I       1 

i 
! 

1 
t 

!»' 

246 


THE    FUR  SEAL8   OP   THE   PRIBILOP   ISLANDS. 


Healiug,  and  tho  dutitb  of  the  mothorH  i»  fast  tending  to  exterminate  the  Hoal  from  the  ocean,  and  that 
iinleHM  Honio  nie\m  are  iiromptiy  taken  to  Htop  pelagic.  Mealing,  which  nndei-  the  jircHent  coiiUitioiis  cau 
not  bo  prolitalile  to  the  HcalorH,  the  herd  will  hooii  bo  entirely  exterminated  and  duHtroyed,  and  I 
snlimit  that  the  only  means  of  ])reHL'rving  the  Heals  from  entire  extinction  is  to  absolntcly  put  an  end 
to  pelagic  Healing,  which  it  onght  not  to  be  diilicult  to  bring  about  by  mutual  agreement,  due  regard 
being  hnd  to  the  interests  of  all  ]>arties  C(uicerned. 

And  I  make  this  solemn  declaration,  conscientiously  believing  the  same  to  bo  true,  and  by  virtue 
of  the  provisions  of  tho  statutory  declarations  act,  1835. 

Waltkk  Martin. 

Declared  at  No.  4  Lambeth  Ilill,  in  tho  eity  of  London,  this  liith  day  of  September,  18!)7, 
before  nie, 

John  D.  Vbnn,  \olary  Public. 

NoTK. — Attached  thereto  are  tho  olTlcinl  certilicates  of  .John  A'onn,  notary  public,  of  the  city  of 
London,  and  William  M.  Osborne,  consul-general  of  the  United  States,  with  their  otlicial  seal  j. 


I'uniinuTinx  of  ruE  killing  ovfch  seals  is  tiik  watkhs  of  the  xohtii  pacific 

OCEAN,  AW  OF  THE  IMPOHTATION  OF  FIR-SEAL  SKINS  TAKEN  IN  SLCU  WATEIiS. 

TuEAsuuY  Department, 

Office  of  the  Secretary, 

Washington,  1).  C,  December  30, 1897. 
To  Colh'ctors  and  other  Officers  of  the  Customs : 

The  following  act,  prohibiting  the  killing  of  fur  seals  in  the  waters  of  the  North 
Pacilic  Ocean,  and  the  regulations  made  thereunder  are  published  for  the  information 
and  guidance  of  all  concerned: 

lie  it  enacted  by  the  ISenate  and  House  of  Reiyresentatives  of  the  United  States  (f 
America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  uo  citizen  of  the  United  States,  nor  person  owing 
duty  of  obedience  to  the  laws  or  the  treaties  of  the  United  States,  nor  any  person 
belonging  to  or  on  board  of  a  vessel  of  the  United  States,  shall  kill,  capture,  or  hunt, 
at  any  time  or  in  any  manner  whatever,  any  fur  seal  in  the  waters  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean  north  of  the  thirty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude  and  including  Boring  Sea  and 
the  sea  of  Okhotsk. 

Sec.  2.  That  no  citizen  of  the  United  States,  nor  person  above  described  in 
section  one,  shall  equip,  use,  or  employ,  or  furnish  aid  in  etiuipping,  using  or 
employing,  or  furnish  supplies  to  any  vessel  used  or  employed,  or  to  bo  used  or 
employed  in  carrying  on  or  taking  part  in  said  killing,  capturing,  or  hunting  of  iur 
seals  in  s^^id  waters,  nor  shall  any  vessel  of  the  United  States  be  so  used  or  employed. 

Sec.  J.  That  every  person  guilty. of  a  violation  of  the  jnovisions  of  this  Act,  or 
of  any  regulations  made  thereunder,  shall,  for  eachofleuse,  be  lined  not  less  than  two 
hundred  dollars  or  more  than  two  thousand  dollars,  or  imprisoned  not  more  than  six 
mouths,  or  both;  and  every  vessel,  its  tackle,  apparel,  furniture,  and  cargo,  at  any 
time  used  or  employed  in  violation  of  this  Act,  or  of  the  regulations  made  thereunder, 
shall  be  forfeited  to  the  United  States. 

Sec.  4.  That  if  any  vessel  of  the  United  States  shall  bo  found  within  the  waters 
to  which  this  Act  applies,  having  on  board  fur-seal  skins  or  bodies  of  seals,  or 
apparatus  or  implements  suitable  for  killing  or  taking  seals,  it  shall  be  presumed 
that  such  vessel  was  used  or  employed  iu  the  killing  of  said  seals,  or  that  said 


le  ncenn,  and  that 
)iit  coiulitioiiB  ciku 
(ItiHti'oyed,  and  I 
iliitc^ly  put  till  und 
smeut,  duo  rugurd 

nio,  and  by  virtue 

ALTKK  MaKTIN. 

Septoniber,  1897, 

,  Notary  Public. 

>Iic,  of  the  city  of 
llicial  Heuh. 


\OJtTll  VACll'lV 
JCU  WATEliS. 


mbcr  30,  1897. 

>rs  of  the  North 
the  iiil'orniiition 


Tnitcd  States  of 
►r  person  owing 
nor  any  person 
ipture,  or  hunt, 
i  of  the  racific 
Bering  Sea  auil 

/o  described  in 

>piiig,  nsing  or 

to  bo  used  or 

hunting  of  fur 

id  or  employed. 

of  this  Act,  or 

)t  less  than  two 

t  more  than  six 

cargo,  at  any 

ade  thereunder, 

thin  the  waters 
ies  of  seals,  or 
1  be  presumed 
or  that  said 


PROHIUITION   OF   SEALING. 


247 


apparatus  or  implements  were  used  in  violation  of  this  Act  until  tht;  contrary  is 
proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court. 

Sko.  5.  That  any  violation  of  this  Act  or  of  the  regulations  thereuntlia-  iniiy  In; 
prosecuted  either  in  the  district  court  of  Alaska  or  in  any  district  court  of  tlic  United 
States  in  California,  Oregon,  or  Washington. 

Se«j.  0.  That  this  Act  shall  not  interfere  with  the  i)rivilegcs  accorded  to  Indians 
dwelling  on  the  coast  of  the  United  States  under  section  six  of  the  A(!t  of  April  si  xth, 
eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-four,  but  the  limitations  ])roscribc«1  in  said  Act  shall 
remaiu  in  full  force. 

Sec.  7.  Tiiat  this  Act  shall  not  aOect  in  any  way  the  killing  or  taking  of  fur  seals 
upon  the  I'ribilof  Islands,  or  the  laws  of  the  United  States  relating  thereto. 

Sec.  8.  That  any  ollicer  of  the  Naval  or  Kevenue-Cutter  Service  of  the  United 
States,  and  any  other  otlicers  duly  designated  by  the  President,  may  search  any 
vessel  of  the  United  States  in  port  or  on  the  high  seas  suspected  of  having  violated 
or  of  having  an  intention  to  violate  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  and  may  seize  such 
vessel  and  the  otfcnding  oilicers  and  crew  and  bring  them  into  the  most  accessible 
port  of  the  States  and  Territory  mentioned  in  section  live  of  this  A(rt  for  trial. 

Sec.  9.  That  the  importation  into  the  United  States  by  any  person  whatsoever  of 
fur-seal  skins  taken  in  the  waters  mentioned  in  this  Act,  whetlier  raw,  dressed,  dyed, 
or  manufactured,  is  hereby  prohibited,  and  all  such  articles  imported  after  this  Act 
shall  take  effect  shall  not  be  permitted  to  be  exported,  but  shall  be  sei/.ed  and 
destroyed  by  the  proper  otlicers  of  the  United  States. 

Sec.  10.  That  the  President  shall  have  power  to  make  all  iieiiessary  regulations 
to  carry  this  Act  into  ett'ect. 

Approved,  December  29,  1897. 

UEf^ULATlONS. 

1.  No  fur-seal  skins,  whether  raw,  dressed,  dyed,  or  otherwise  manufactured,  shall 
be  admitted  to  entry  in  the  United  States  unless  there  shall  bo  attached  to  the  invoice 
a  certificate,  signed  by  the  United  States  consul  at  the  place  of  exportation,  that  said 
skins  were  not  taken  from  seals  killed  within  the  waters  mentioned  in  said  act, 
specifying  in  detail  the  locality  of  such  taking,  whether  on  land  or  at  sea,  and  also  the 
person  from  whom  said  skins  were  purchased  in  their  raw  and  dressed  state,  the  date 
of  such  purchase,  and  the  lot  number.  Consuls  shall  require  satisfactory  evidence  of 
the  truth  of  such  facts  by  oath  or  otherwise  before  giving  any  such  certificate. 

No  fur-seal  skins,  whether  raw,  dressed,  dyed,  or  oi'ierwise  manufactured,  shall 
be  admitted  to  entry  as  part  of  a  passenger's  personal  ettects  unless  accompanied 
by  an  invoice  certified  by  the  consul  as  herein  provided. 

All  fur-seal  skins,  whether  raw,  dressed,  dyed,  or  otherwise  manufactured,  the 
invoices  of  which  are  not  aceoiupauied  by  the  certificate  above  prescribed,  shall  be 
seized  by  the  collector  of  custoius  and  destroyed  as  provided  for  in  section  9  of  the  act 
of  December  29, 1897. 

2.  Every  article  manufactured  in  whole  or  in  part  from  fur-seal  skins,  the  invoice 
of  which  is  presented  as  aforesaid  to  the  consul,  shall  have  legibly  stamped  thereon 
the  name  of  the  manufacturer  and  the  phice  of  manufiicture,  and  shall  be  accomitanied 
by  a  statement  in  writing,  under  the  oath  of  said  manufacturer,  that  said  skin  or  skins 


If 


,1'' 


;|:^ 


t,  I 


3 ; 


24S 


THK   FUR    SKAL8   OF   TIIK    PRIIUI.OP   ISLANDS. 


used  ill  saiil  article  wore  taken  from  seals  not  killed  at  sea  witliin  the  waters  mentioned 
in  said  act,  specifying'  the  locality  in  detail,  and  also  the  (terson  from  wlnnn  sanl  skins 
were  purchased  in  their  raw  and  dressed  state,  the  date  of  said  purchase,  and  the  lot 
number. 

.'t.  When  iin  application  ia  nnidc  to  a  consul  for  a  (certificate  under  these  rej^ulations 
the  invoice  and  proofs  of  origin  presented  by  the  expcnter  shall  i)e  submitted  to  the 
Treaf^ury  a^ent  desi<:natcd  for  the  purpose  of  investigation,  and  the  consul  shall  not 
certify  any  such  invoice  until  such  agent  shall  have  made  his  repent. 

4.  All  articles  manufactured  in  whole  or  in  part  from  fur-seal  skins  and  imported 
into  the  United  States  shall  have  the  linings  thereof  so  arranged  that  the  ]»elt  of  the 
skin  or  skins  underneath  shall  be  exposed  for  examination. 

r».  All  fur-seal  skins,  whether  raw,  dressed,  dyed,  or  otherwise  manufiWitured  in 
wh(»le  or  in  j>art,  whether  imported  as  merchandise  or  as  part  of  a  i)assenger's  effects, 
shall  be  sent  to  the  public  stores  for  careful  examination  and  iuspe<ition  to  inevent 
evasion  of  the  law. 

0.  All  garments  made  in  whole  or  in  part  of  seal  skins  and  taken  from  this  country 
may  be  reentered  on  i)resentatiou  of  a  certificate  of  ownership  from  the  collector  of 
customs  of  the  port  of  departure,  which  certificate  shall  have  been  obtained  by  the 
owner  of  the  garment  by  offering  the  same  to  the  collector  for  inspection  before  leaving 
this  country. 

7.  Nothing  in  these  i^jgulations  shall  affect  the  right  of  any  ofllcer  of  the  customs 
to  inspect  and  seize  any  fur-seal  skin  or  garment  imported  which  he  may  find  to  have 
been  imported  in  violation  of  said  act. 

L.   J.   (iA(iK, 

Secretary  of  the  Tremurij. 
Approved : 

William  .Mckinley. 


U 


Bin  iiioiitioiKMl 
oiii  said  skins 
it^,  and  the  lot 

86  ref^^iilations 
)nutt«>d  to  tlie 
iisiil  shall  not 

and  inipui'ttMl 
he  pelt  of  the 

iinfaetured  in 
iifjer's  ell'ects, 
on  to  iiievent 

u  tliis  eountry 
le  c«)lle(!tor  of 
tained  by  the 
before  leaving 

if  the  customs 
y  find  to  have 

( 1 AOE, 
he  Treasury, 


APT^r.XDIX  III. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


The  ])late8  lierewith  i)ies<>nte(l  are  <lesi;>:ned  to  show  the  fact  of  de<'Iine  in  the 
fur-seal  herd  during  the  period  covered  by  the  operatious  of  the  regulations  of  the 
I'aris  Award.  The  number  of  examples  might  be  multiplied  in«letlnitely,  but  it  is  not 
necessary  to  do  so, 

I'lafe  1. — This  is  a  view  in  ])anorama  of  a  portion  t»f  Kitovi  rookery  on  St.  Paul 
Island  known  as  the  Ampiiitheater.  The  photographs  were  taken  on  the  ITith  of  tluly, 
1.S04,  when  the  season  was  at  its  height  and  the  nuiximum  number  of  breeding  seals 
for  the  season  present. 

I'Uxle  X'. — This  is  a  view  of  the  same  breeding  ground  taken  on  the  13th  of  .Inly, 
18!»7,  a  date  which  practically  coincides  with  that  in  plate  1.  The  (contrast  for  the 
two  seasons  is  too  obvious  to  reiiuire  comment. 

Flute  :>. — This  represents  a  section  of  the  small  breeding  ground  on  Keef  Peninsula 
known  as  Ardiguen.  The  date  is  .luly  15,  18!)4.  By  the  aid  of  a  gludS  six  harems, 
aggregating  more  than  100  cows,  can  be  distinguished.  This  plate  slu)uld  be  compared 
with  plate  .">,  to  follow. 

Phtti:  J. — This  view  of  the  same  breeding  ground  for  July  liO,  bSOo,  is  introducied 
to  show  the  progress  of  the  decline,  by  comi)arison  with  the  season  of  1894,  as  shown 
in  plate  .5.  Ordinarily  the  slirinkage  between  successive  seasons  is  iu)t  clearly  marked 
in  photographs,  but  the  seasons  of  189-4  and  1895  arc  exceptional  in  this  regard.  The 
unusual  loss  which  the  herd  sutt'ered  in  the  tirst  season  of  the  operation  of  the 
regulations  of  the  Paris  Award — (51,000  as  against  3(»,000  in  189.'5 — showed  itself 
distinctly  on  the  breeding  grounds  in  1894,  as  indicated  in  this  and  other  photograjdis 
which  might  be  cited. 

Plait'  '). — This  third  view  of  the  upper  section  of  Ardiguen  for  July  13, 1897,  when 
compared  with  plate  3,  siiows  the  most  unmistakable  evidence  of  rookery  decline, 
being  completely  abandoned.  In  189(5  there  were  three  harems  in  this  territory.  The 
seals  represented  an  overHow  due  to  the  crowded  ciondition  of  the  beach,  with  which 
it  is  connected  by  a  narrow  ravine.    In  1897  there  was  room  for  all  "he  seals  below. 

Plate  6. — This  plate  shows  a  bird's-eye  view  of  Zajmdni  rookery  of  St.  (Jeorge, 
taken  on  July  19,  1895.  With  it  should  be  contrasted  the  view  of  the  same  rookery 
in  plate  7. 

Plate  7. — This  view  of  Zapadni  rookery  was  taken  on  July  11, 1897.  It  shows  the 
group  in  the  tbreground  of  plate  (5  entirely  gone.  The  large  grouj)  at  the  foot  of  the 
.slope  has  shrunk  perceptibly,  as  has  also  the  one  at  some  distance  beyond.  The 
farthest  group  shown  in  1895  is  practically  broken  up  in  1897. 


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INDEX 


137 

8K 
75 
88 
17 


Aliandonmont  of—  rago. 

Itroodiug  territory iftl 

cawseof 137,138 

Maruuiclii'u lag 

Spilki 

Acn^age  inousiiruiiioiit— 

coiitriist  of 

diiliculty  of 

summary  of 

Aft  of  CoiifjreHs 

Actual  counts go  109 

Adams,  Uristow 2I 

Affidavits  of  furriers 24-t 

Agents,  Government 35  191 

Alaska  Commercial  Comimuy 28 

leiiHc  of 29,23(» 

Alaska,  transfer  of 21 

Aleuts,  condition  of 34 

notions  of 139 

Alexander,  A.  IJ. : 

investigatiiuis  regarding  sexes 155 

spearing  of  seals 144 

Alleged  change  of  habits 134 

Allen,  Dr.  J.  A 43  73 

American  contentious igo 

American  fur-seal  catch: 

1894  

1895 ][ 

1896 

1897 ['[\ 

American  citizens  jirohiliited  from  scaling  17(5, 246 

American  management 28 

Aniphitlieatcr  of  Kitovi: 

count  of 54,212 

harems  on 54 

synopsis  of  counts 53 

Antarctic  seals 43 

Arbitration  Tribunal 30  177, 231 

award  of 931 

declarations  of 236 

regulations  of 180, 234 

Arbitrary  selection  of  males 13G 

Arbitration : 

proposals  for jyg 

treaty  of 179,228 


215, 
217 
219 
220 


Pogc. 
Arctocephalus  43 

•^'''''S"en !.!!..'"39,107 

Arrival  of  seals 49 

Atlantic  seals 43 

Average  haroin 90 

Babine,  A.  \ 37 

Bachelor,  the 4(; 

Bacbolors : 

landing  of 41) 

of  Bering  Ishind 435 

Bachelor  herd,  decline  of 29 

Barrett-Hamilton,  O.K.  II ."...18, 125 

Basis  of  enumeration iqI 

Bayard,  Secretary j  77 

Beaman, . I.  W.,  counts  of 82,83 

Bering  Island jjg 

dearth  of  bulls  on i25 

Bering  Sea,  scaling  in 143^  140 

Bering,  Vitus,  second  voyage  of 23 

Blaine,  Secretary 478 

Breeding  grounds 3(5 

Breeding  seals : 

estimate  of ^9 

summary  of 93 

Breeding  season : 

breaking  up (J7 

height  of 5.5  -4 

British  contentions 37 

153, 151, 159, 161, 162,  lti3, 168, 180 

Bryant,  Capt.  ('harles 77  ];J9 

estimate  for  1869 '  77 

note  on  Kitovi g2 

Buckshot  in  seals 445 

Bull,  the 4g 

Bulls: 

condition  of (57 

count  of 100 

discipline  of r,g 

fasting  of 57 

fighting  of 52,59,(50,61 

no  lack  of 422  127 

not  impotent 127 

proportion  of,  to  cows 119  194 

scarcity  of,  on  Bering  Island 125 

superlluouB J20 

1 


II 


INDKX. 


Hi  i 


('iillorliiiniH —  Vnuv, 

nlllHI'llllIlM Ifl 

ciirilcMHiM I.") 

iirMitniM  15 

('iiiiikIii  : 

intiTOHtH  of 17.1 

uiijcciioiiH  of nn 

soaliiiK  iniliislry  of 17ti 

('iiniuliaii  fiir-Nt'al  citlcli: 

18!tl 2Iti 

1895 317 

18<Hi 21!» 

1«!17 L>'.'1 

Capo  Horn  Hoiils L'Jti 

{'nrciisH-Htrt'wii  ilrivcwa.vH 132 

Ciitiistioi.li..  of  is;i| 25 

('at("j;orio.s  of  NealH Hi 

CaiiSH  of  ilei'liiix lit!,  15(1 

not  killing  of  malm 12:i 

pt'lagio  sealing !•">■' 

{•••nsiis  of  IS'Mi !W,  21M 

cliiff  rori'i'ctioii  ill !M 

(ivtMCNtiiiiatt-H   in 91 

rovisud  (aj)l»<  of !l(i,2i;< 

revision  of 93 

Census  of  1897 iH!,  97.  213 

('(■nsus  of  brecdinjj  Krals,  tcntativi^ — 

for  St.  (icorjio 91 

for  St.  I'anl ill 

Cliiin'so  nuirkcts,  BtamlanlN  of 25 

Clark.  (ifor{j;e  A 18,  lO'.t 

Closi'suason 30,  181 

Closeil  zont' W.  181 

Conniiauilur  lolandN: 

discovery  of 23 

driveways  of 130 

siiffneslcd  iuij;ration  to 131 

Coinniission,  the 17 

Comparative  census,  189(i-!t7 213 

Conclusions,  summary  of 181 

Condition  of  licrd: 

past 75 

present iK) 

Conference  of  experts 188.210 

lindiuKs  of 188,241 

Counts  of  cows  and  pn|iH: 

189«! 92 

1897 9G 

count  in  1S!I5 85,  «(i 

Cow,  th«> 4(i 

Cows : 

daily  counts  of 51,  .53.  212 

dead (>2 

departure  of    58 

feeding  of .55 

increased  nuirtality  in  18!t7 62.  108 

landing  of 51. 52,  (io 

treatment  by  liulls til 


[  CiiRtom-houHc  cxaminaliim  of  skins 155 

Daily  counts  of  \S'J~ 51,  .52.  ,53,  51.  212 

Kail.  Dr.  W.  II.,  notes  of 2ti 

Dawson,  Dr.  (J.  M ||(| 

Dead  pups: 

counts  of 213.  21 1 

decrease  of,  in  18!17     KW 

early  dentli  of 70.  m; 

eaten  liy  foxes I(i7 

losHof  liodicH |(i7 

on  St.  I'aul Kis.  Hi!) 

on  St.  (ieorge 71.  Ili8,  llill 

on  death  traps 70 

removal  of I7(i 

total  for  \H'M> 70,  Uiit 

Death  tra|is: 

contrasted  <'.iunts los 

record  of 70 

Decline: 

lieginning  of I(t2,  1.50 

(  ause  of 1 15 

'videnceof 1()| 

history  of 102 

in  quota  of  1S!)7 lOH 

percentages  of IK) 

total  ixtcnt  of Ill 

Defective  ski  lis 121 

Discovery  and  explor.'it ion  23 

DiHci|dilie  iif  the  harem .58.5!! 

Dora  Siewcrd.  cruises  nf 15,-, 

Drive,  till' 117 

Driving: 

animal  drivi'n 127 

process  of I2(i 

I  >rives : 

absenie  of  sexual  injury 133 

.Vmerican 128 

care  exercised  <ui 131 

comparison  of 130 

fatalities  on 132 

from  Northeast  I'oiut 128 

from  Koef 1 17, 129 

i:« 

130 

128 

129 

77 

77 

81 

81 


not  a  factor  in  (lecline 

on  CiMumander  Islamls 

IfiLssiau 

short  I'll  ing  of 

Karly  rookery  cstiinales — 

of  18()9 

of  1872-1871 

of  188(i 

of  18!M) 

of  1895 x:,,  Sli,  87 

reconstrnction  of X8. 8!t 

value  of 82,81.8(i,88 

Kast  riiokeiy '!■' 

Ktlect  of  pelagic  sealing 15:'. 


V 


..       155 

:i.r.i,L'i2 

L'tl 
IIU 

. -'in,  I'll 

KM 

.70.  IIMi 

l(i7 

1«7 

.  IthS.  Iti!) 

It>8,  Itill 

70 

170 

.70,  Iti!) 


lOS 
70 

150 
115 
101 
102 
lOS 

no 
111 

ILM 
I'll 
58,  !)!• 
155 
117 

I1'7 
ll!(! 


.10: 


i:{;{ 

i;u 
ino 

132 
128 
1 17, 129 

i:<3 

lliO 
128 
129 

77 
77 
84 
81 

85,  8t!.  87 
.   88,89 

8l.8(i,  88 
i2 


/ 


INDKX. 


Ill 


Willi' 

Kllioit.  II.  w Ml,  :w,  77. 70, 120,  i:mi.  i;t8 

cstiiiiiilf  of  1872-1871 77 

(wliiiiiittMif  I8!M) 81 

Mill  vi'.vs  of 79,  80 

unit  (if  M|m('o 80 

Kiiiply  stoiiiitcliN,  oxplitiiittiiiii  ol' I(!l 

Ki|iiililii'iiiiii  of  hcnl 102,  1.58 

iiiiili'r  poJiiKi)'  Hraliii^ 158.  I.5tl 

riiiilil  not  III'  iiiaiiitiiiiii'il 1.59 

cxiNtH  below  coiiiiiiuiTiiil  mill 1.59 

K.Htiinati'H  of  1895: 

coiitriiHt  of 87 

Crowley 8(( 

.Murray 87 

TriK)  autl  'rowimt'iitl 85 

K8t!iiiati<B  of  1897 : 

ImcliclorM 98 

liulU 98,  UKt 

<:owH  und  piipH 98,  100 

idle  iiud  half  IiuIIh 98 

HealH  of  all  claMNcH  prostuit KN) 

houIh  dt'ad  diiriuK  Hvasoii 100 

Hcals  aliv«  ill  October 100 

yearliii>;N  and  vir;;iuH 99 

Kxrroiuoiit  i\i'  seal."* 161 

KastiiiK  of  Mould 57 

FoiiialoH,  proti'ftion  of 25 

eawo  ol'captiiro 15(5 

elVo.l  of  killing 171,189 

fei'diug  of Itil 

killing  of 25,  153,  1.5ti 

percciitagti  in  pulagii'  ralrh 15.5,225 

[lOHaiblo  abHtraolion  of 157,  243 

propondcranco  of 15 1 

Hkius  Hlioiildbu  coutrabaud 190 

Figliting,  of  bulls 52,  .59, 00,  (51 

due  to  sexual  cxciti'iiioiit GO 

iiiHtinct  for 02 

Fiudings  of  fact 188,212 

Firuarma,  used  in  Mcaliug 143 

Fixity  of  babits 134 

Food  and  feeding  grounds 08 

Food,  digestiou  of .50 

Fur-seal  berd: 

condition  of 2ti,  88, 89,  100 

importance  of 1!K) 

iiiternutional  interest  in 173 

Fur  seal  or  sea  bear 43 

Fur-seal  <iueBtion,  origin  of 177 

Future  of  the  bird 188 

(iains  and  losses  of  tbe  berd 149 

Oala]iagoH  Islands 74 

Oorbatidi  rookery 39 

(irass-grown  areas 104 

Great  Hritain,  interests  of 174 

Great  killer,  tlio 71 


I'liK*. 

(!r('MHi«rada,  Nil  border  of 13 

(i  row  til  of  pi'luKJc  rati'll 1 19,  1.50 

liiiadnliipr  Island 41 

llalkctt.  A IH, (1.5,  185 

ri'porton  proportion  of  Iriiiab'S 1,55 

ii'iiiarkH  on  slagy  skin.s 05 

Hamlin,  (  bas.  .S . . . . ". 18,  24 1 

ilarbors,  almrni'<\  of 32 

llari'iii,  tbe 57 

llari'in  si/rs 5X 

llari'ins,  count  on  umpbitlK'atcr ,54 

summary  <if !Mi,  97 

Hauling  groundM 3li 

not  drivon 121 

uumbi'r  driven,  1871-1889 123 

IliHtorical  skftcli 23 

Home  of  till'  fur  seals 31 

Hooper,  (apt.  CM 17l,22ti 

Howes,  Osborne 20 

Hunting  by  Indians 142 

Hntchinsoii  Hill 37 

lee,  obstruct  ion  by 25,  19 

Idle  bulls,  estimate  of 100 

IndisiTimlnate  killing 154 

lni|iiiry,  oecasioii  of 


17 

Inspection,  elleit  of 140 

need  of I'M 

Instructions 18 

Interregniiin : 

1  )airN  note  on 2(i 

females  not  killed  in 28 

Howos's  niites 2(! 

inetbods  of  killing 27 

uiinibur  of  Deals  killed 26 

Introduction 17 

Investigation,  the 18.  19 

Itinerary  : 

1890 20 

1897 21 

.lordan.  Dr.  David  S 17,  130 

.loint  agreement  of  1892 115 

.loiiit  commission  of  1892 179 

.loint  report  of  experts,  1897 1x8.210 

Killable  seals 1 10 

Killing  season lit! 

Killing: 

indiscriminate 1.54 

premature 123 

wasteful 124 

Killers 71 

Killings: 

at  Nortboast  Point 207 

at  Zapadni  (St.  (Jeorge) 207 

eomparison  for  1889  and  1890 124 

for  food 2.5.  121.  124 

land  and  soa lUi,  211 


i! 


IV 


INDEX. 


Killilll."'  — Coiitilllli'tl,  I'nuf. 

on  CuiiiMiHiKtiT  InIuikIn 125 

()|irriltii>IIN  of IIH,  ll!l 

purci'iititKO  killoil  ni r>0 

I'ojortod  noiiIh  at '>() 

Hiiiiiiimr.v  of 2'>7,  L'OH,  L'()!t 

KiliiiiKH.  tiaily  taliluM: 

1875 Iil7 

\HHO l!l!» 

imi aoo 

1««!) L'Ol 

1«!N) 202 

18!tl  203 

1892-10 204 

1804-!I5 20r. 

18!Mi-!»7 20(i 

KItovi  idoktrv IW, lit 

uvenigo  harem  of iM) 

taken  a»  typical 90 

Koiiiaii(l(ii'Hki  (Ciiiriinaiiilor)  lieril 44 

Kuril  Islands,  tlio 45 

Lack  of  knowlr(l};o  ill  paHt 1!)1 

Lagoon  rookery 40 

ikppai'ont  iiicrenso  on HI 

Land  and  Hoa  killing: 

history  of 2!( 

statistics  of 14!t,  211 

Land  killing: 

coiilluod  to  nialus 110 

effect  of lilt 

in  180!) 27,28 

snspcnaion  of 147 

Law  |iroliil>iting  American  Hcalors 240 

Lii'bi'H,  Isaac,  note  on  Htagy  skins 6(i 

Little  Kast  rookery 42 

Little  Zapadni  rookery 40 

Lobos  Island  seals 22tS 

Lncas,  F.  A 18,  4H,  101),  100,  1(15 

Lnkanin  rookery 38 

count  of 51,  212 

ManiiKcment: 

A  nierican 28 

linsslan 25 

wastcfnl 123, 124 

Macoiiii,  .lames  M 18, 1011,  163,  ItW 

Males,  killed  with  iiiipnnity 189,243 

Martin,  Walter  K.,  deposition  of 215 

Marnnichen 41 

abandonment  of 138 

Massed  rookeries 52 

Miiynard,  Lieutenant 83 

McIntyro,II.  II 28,144 

Mi<ldleIIill 40,103 

Migrations 47 

period  .and  limits  of 48 

Modus  Vivendi 143,179,227 

eliectof 147 

text  of 227 


I'llK'". 

Morton,  .loliii  M 22 

MoHcr,  Capl .  .letl'crson  !•' 17 

Murray,  Col.  .loMoph 18,170,197 

estimate  for  18115 87 

Naturalist,  need  of 194 

Natural  mortality 70,  ll.">,  1.57,181, 185 

Need  of  continuous  expert  study 193 

Nomenclature  of  the  seals 10 

Nonbrreding  seals: 

estiuuite  of  in  past 89 

estimate  for  1897 97, 08 

North  American  Connnercial  Company,  lease 

of 29,238 

Northeast  I'oint: 

killingsat 207 

rookeries  of 37 

North  Pacific,  seals  of 44 

North  rookery 42,49 

Noycs,  ( 'opt.  W.  L 71 

( Hd  age,  death  from 157 

Obi  Johns  Rock 108 

Orca  orca 71 

Otter  Island 32,  .5)1 

liachelors  on 39 

harem  on 39,93 

Overdriving: 

has  not  occurred 127 

theory  of 120 

Overkilling: 

has  not  occurred 121 

impracticability  of 121 

possibility  of 120 

I'alatadrivo 131 

I'arade  grouiKl  of  reef 38 

Paranites  of  seals 70 

Paris  award 231 

resi'ltsof 177 

Parrot t  A  Co.,  expedition  of 26 

Patrol,  co4tof 182 

Pelage  of  fur  seals 65 

Pelagic  fleet,  value  of 171, 220 

vessels  sealing  in  award  area 225 

Pelagic  catch: 

compared  with  land  catch 148 

decline  of 1'8,  175 

from  Commander  herd 118,151 

growth  of 149 

relation  to  land  catch 1,")2 

percentage  ol  feinal  s  in 154, 155,225 

statistics  of 149 

Hunimary  of 16, 222 

summary  since  1894 175 

Pelagic  sealing 142 

Asiatic  waters 117, 151 

a  check 151 

a  suicidal  industry 175 


Pngp. 

17 

8, 170, 197 
87 
...  I'.tl 
.7,  l«l,l«5 
...  l!t;{ 
10 


...  207 
37 
U 

...  13,  lit 
71 

...       157 

. . .  lOH 
71 

....  HL'.M 
•M 

....  3!t,!»:{ 

...       127 
....       I2(i 

....       121 

....       121 

120 

i:il 

•M 
70 

2;!i 

..  177 
2(! 

..       182 

05 

171,220 

..       225 

..       118 
1'8,  175 
1 18,  151 
14'J 
. .       152 
54, 155,  225 
.       119 
1  6,222 
.       175 
.       142 
117, 151 
151 
..       175 


INDEX. 


Polaf{ir  Nnullnn— f  ontiniiotl.  Vunr. 

Ik  (!iiiiii(liiiii  iniliiNtry 170 

1).V  liiiliuiis TO,  142 

by  white  inmi 30,  143 

catehof,giiic.'  1804 215-221 

oiimiilativo  ntVot't  uf 171 

ilcBtructioii  of  ])U|iN  by 

entry  into  IterinK  Hou 110, 112 

expiingion  of 150 

in  Horinn  Sea 30 

legality  of 176 

lo8H  from,  total 171 

losRsini'c  1883 171 

loBH  iiniler  the  ntKolatioiiH 172 

oil'  north  wt'Ntcoant 146 

pogsible  ofiiiilibrinni  nnilrr 15t! 

Iirobiliited  to  Aniuricanit 176 

prohibition  necessary 187 

slaughter  of  fc^inalrg 187, 180 

aumniary  of  HtatiBtirs 222 

voHHelH  engaged  in 143, 225 

Period  of  e(|uilibrinni,  1871-1880 102 

r<'rNonal  eNtiniut<'H 83 

I'boca  nraina 44 

Photographs: 

<.f  Tolstoi  in  1801 115 

limitations  of 10«i 

relation  to  counts 106 

value  of 105,107 

I'innipedia,  the 43 

Policy  of  st^clnsiou 140 

Poluvina  rookery 37 

early  ostiniatos  of K2, 83 

Polygamous  habits  of  seals 119 

Population  of  rookeries: 

diOiculty  of  estimate 7fi 

ilut'tuatiun  of 54 

Present  condition  of  herd 90,100 

Promiscuous  nursing  of  pups,  thfory  of. . .  162 

Proportion  of  bulls  to  cows 119 

Protection : 

proposed  nioasuros 178 

counter  proposition 178 

Pribilof,  (ierrasim 23 

Pribilof  herd 44 

Pribilof  Islands: 

area  of 31 

b irds  of . . . ; 33 

climate 32 

discovery  of 23 

geography  of 31 

iuhaliitauts  of 33 

latitude  and  longitude  of 31 

mammals 33 

vegetation 33 

Pups: 

birth  of 55 


PiipH — Conlinned.  I'sgi-, 

c tsof,  1S!M( 92 

count  of,  1897 !« 

death  of 70,  158 

dead  unborn I*i0 

dependent  upon  milk liU 

estimate  of  starved 169, 170 

excess  over  cows 92,  !K! 

excursions  of 6!» 

killing  of 25, 121 

play  of 163 

podding  of 68 

starvation  of 160,  ia5 

starving lt;6, 167 

stomach  examinations 163 

supposed  feeding  of 16.3 

swimming  of 69 

trampling  of 115 

Pop,  the 47 

Questions  still  unsettled   193 

Quinan,   Lieutenant,   account  of  shooting 

seals 145 

Quota : 

anticipation  of 123 

conti   ctioM  of  lw7(i-77  and  1882-83 122 

data  regarding 123 

date  of  Oiling VS.i 

decrease  of  in  1897 108 

fixing  of l<(3 

failure  ol,  in  18!M) 103 

irregular  since  1890 151 

measure  of  breeding  herd HI 

of  1871-1889 «8 

of  1890  and  since 103 

of  1894-95 lo;i 

of  189«-!>7 88, 111,112,  113,  20it,2IO 

relation  to  breeding  herd 88 

liecommcndation l!)l 

Hecounis  of  live  pups 10!t 

Keport,  divisions  of 19 

Reef  driveway iLtt 

Keef  rookery 38 

Uegulations  of  Paris  award 143,  231 

adapted  to  work  of  sealers IHI 

eftoctof 30 

failure  of 182 

obligations  of 183 

purpose  of 183 

revision  not  adei|uate 187 

trial  period  of 182 

liejected  seals 98 

skins 124 

Remedy  for  decline 187 

Remipetlia 43 

Revised  census  of  1896 95 

Revision  of  early  estimates: 

of  1872-1874 88,89 

of  1895 86 


I""'-' 


VI 


INDEX. 


H' 

^h 


Tagr. 

Kii;e,  (iPori('>,  <lepiisitioii  of 241 

Rolilien  Island  lu'nl 15 

Uookories,  the 36 

doteriiiiuatioii  of  iKiiiiiilarics IS 

fnrmiitiuu  of 52 

in8))('ction  uf ,.' 139 

life  on 49 

uunieH  of 36 

noise  of 63 

obstriii^teil  liy  ice 49 

unstable  populMtiiin  of 78 

Ku88i:i,  interests  ol 174 

Knssian-American  ('onipaiiv 23,24,25.26 

Salisbury,  Lord 17s 

.San  Diego,  the 112 

Sealing  seuson,  boginiiing  of .">0, 110 

Seal  grass 33,1(11 

Seals,  species  of 45 

ability  to  travel 127. 131 

age  of 68 

■•irri val  of 4i> 

attitudes  of 64 

"breaehing" 144 

categories  of 46 

coloratioi'  of 64 

de])arture  of "i 

enemies  of 71 

fasting  of 57 

Hxod  habits  of 134 

"liuning" 144 

indiviilual  s  lace  occiipioil 80,  Ml 

injuries  to <W 

law  of  distribution  Ix 

low  iiitelligenci'  of 134 

migrations  of 47 

mortality  among 70 

mortality  among  young !i9 

not  iillectrd  liy  man \X>.  U 1 

nomenclature  of 46 

]iarnsites  of 70 

possibility  of  driving  elsewhere 136 

rate  of  t  ra vol 72 

shooting  of 14+ 

"sleeprrs" 114 

sleeping  of 63 

spearing  of 144 

staginess,  meaning  of 6(i 

swimming  of 72 

"  travelers  " 144 

wounds  of 62 

Sealskin  industry,  dentoraliited  eonditlon.   173,  175 

Sealing  of  the  .South  Seas 153 

Sei:<nre  of  vessels 30,  177 

Sex  of  suited  sUius 155 

Sex  returns: 

Alexander's  report 1.55 


Sex  returns — Continnod.  I'agp. 

Ilalkett's  report 156 

ser  ling  captains' 1E)4 

customs  experts' 155 

.Shooting,  loss  through 145 

Shrinkage  ol  breeding  area 107 

Ardiguen 107 

Tolstoi  sand  tiat 107 

Sivntch  Hock 32,38 

estimate  of 94 

Sivnt'h  rookery, cause  of  occupation 138 

Skins: 

defective 121 

rejected 124 

treatment  of 119 

stagy 121 

Slaughter  of  the  heals 190 

Southern  fur  ceals,  habits  of 73 

South  rookery,  IJerIng 125 

Spearheads  on  rookeries 145 

.Spilki.  abandonment  of 137 

count  of 83 

St.  I'aul: 

count  of  CO ws 91 

count  of  harems 91 

description  of 31 

rookeries  of ;16 

St.  (icoige,  description  of 31 

rookeries  of 41 

Stagy  season 65 

Starvatifui  of  pups 165 

.Starved  pups,  count  of Kit!,  169 

estimate  for  1897 169.  170 

Starving  pups,  notes  on  166,1(57 

Steller,  (ieorge  Wilhelm 44 

Ste.jneger,  Dr.  L 17, 1  IS,  125 

Summary  of  killings 207.208.209 

Snperttuous  males 120 

Texts: 

attidavits  of  furriers 344 

Alaska  Comiucrcial  Coiupany's  lease...       236 

arbitration  treaty a 228 

declarations  of  tribunal 23(i 

joint  coni'lusiiMiB  of  exi)erts 240 

law  prohibiting  scaling 246 

modu«  vivendi _'..  T 

North  American  Commercial  Ciuiipauy's 

lease 238 

Paris  award 231 

regulation  ,  the 231 

Theory  of  overdriving  126 

Thompson.  I'rof.  D'Arey  W 18.  107,  109, 114, 

156, 159, 168 

Tingle,  estimate  (d'  18«6 84 

Tolstoi  rookery 40 

photogrnpi  of,  1891 115 

I'ownsoMd.C.  II 18,48,146,148 


INDEX. 


VII 


Page. 
15(i 
154 
155 
145 
107 
107 
107 
32.  38 
91 

i;« 

124 
119 
121 
190 

73 
125 
145 
137 

83 


TownNcnd'H  crossps 

TroatioN: 

182J-25  

1867 ......" 

1892 .[[[..[[.[ 

'I'nidifijr  comp.inios: 

I'liridtt  A  (.'o 

Williams  A  }\:,\rn 

Fliitchinsoii,  Ki.lil  A  Co 

Tiipiirtito  iitjiepiiii-iit  of  \HHH 
Truoanil  Townstui.l,  cslimnttM)!'  ISiir, 

llkaso  of  1x21 

l/iii^iiiaria 

UiulorHizcd  seals,  Idllinir  ,,(• 

United  Slalos,  intciVNts  of 

Unit  of  H|(a(o: 

Klliolfs 

Trno  and  Townsnnd's 


I'acn. 
107 


21 

24 

179, 228 


27 

27 

27 

17K 

85 

21 

70,  ]  Iti 

124 

173 

80 
M,85  i 


15184 17 


Veniamlnnf ^r? 

Vnstocljiii  rooUory '  ''^(j 

\'irj;in  cowh ._ 

Walrus  r.sl.iii.l •)•) 

Wasteful  IxillinjT jljT 

Williams. T.T ."'..''........'.''  17., 

Weather,  olioct  on  scallnir .""  14h 

WinKficld,  rofeieiice  to  l.ttcrol ^9 

Wisclilinsen.  Kdniiind,  .Icposiiion  of zn 

VaiiovsU.v.  report  of ,-. 

\''"*'l ' "KN .  47 

Votihif  seals,  losses  anions c)<) 

Zapadni  (Medni)  drive j^^j, 

Z.'ipadni  rookery '.f. 

Zapadni  (,'<t.  George) ^, 

^      ''""""^on '.'.'ZZy:..]  207 

^"'*«"  39 


91 

91 
31 

•Ad 
31 

41 

«5 

....       1()5 

.    l(i<),  l<i9 

..   1(59,  170 

. .   IWi,  167 

44 
17,110,125 
07, 208, 209 
....   120 

....  244 

e...  236 

....  228 

....  236 

240 

. ...  246 


....  238 
....  231 
. . . .  234 
....  126 
7,  109, 114, 
'6, 159, 168 
84 
40 
...  115 
18, 146, 148 


